Great Lakes — National Geographic Wall Map (1987)
Five inland seas that shaped a continent. Published in July 1987 as part of National Geographic’s “Making of America” series, this richly detailed Great Lakes wall map brings Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario into crisp, room-commanding focus—shorelines, islands, ports, and border cities set out with elegant mid-’80s cartography. It captures the world’s largest group of freshwater lakes and the binational region they anchor—Canada and the United States—with a balance of beauty, readability, and depth.
More than a regional portrait, the sheet is alive with historical notes and visitor highlights, making it both reference and travel inspiration. It’s a composition that commands a wall from across the room and rewards close study at arm’s length.
More Than a Map – A Testament to History
This isn’t just wall art—it’s a frame for understanding the Great Lakes as an engine of settlement, trade, and culture. Borders, cities, waterways, and corridors reveal how communities have long moved, worked, and explored across these inland seas. Ideal for educators, planners, historians, designers, travellers, and collectors, it pairs beautifully with other Making of America titles.
Hang it in studios, libraries, classrooms, museums, offices, or at home to invite reflection, study, and conversation.
Premium Materials & Finishes
We treat geography with the respect it deserves. That’s why we offer multiple formats, each produced using high-quality materials and modern archival printing.
🌟 Archival Paper Print
Printed on heavyweight 160gsm archival-grade paper.
Smooth matte finish reduces glare and preserves fine linework and small labels.
Ideal for framing under glass—clean, timeless, and built to last.
💎 Laminated Edition
Encapsulated in two sheets of 80-micron gloss laminate using true thermal bonding—not just surface lamination.
Moisture-resistant, wipe-clean surface—perfect for classrooms and high-traffic reference spaces.
Optional Natural Timber Hang Rails: lacquered rails with a fitted hanging cord provide a polished, ready-to-hang presentation—no frame required. (Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery with hang rails.)
🏆 Museum-Quality Canvas
Printed on heavyweight 395gsm HP Professional Matte Canvas for rich texture and exceptional strength.
Pigment-based, fade-resistant inks deliver deep tone and crisp typography that endure for generations.
Optional Natural Timber Hang Rails: lacquered to enhance the wood grain and protect against wear; top cord for effortless hanging—elegant in any setting. (Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery with hang rails.)
Specifications
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Great Lakes |
| Series | National Geographic “Making of America” |
| Original Publication | 1987 (July) |
| Scale | 1:2,309,000 |
| Cartographic Content | Five Great Lakes; international (US–Canada) boundary; major cities & ports; shorelines; waterways; historical notes & tourist highlights |
| Map Size | 687 mm (W) × 516 mm (H) |
| Available Formats | Paper, Laminated, Canvas |
| Paper Weight | 160gsm archival-quality |
| Laminate | 2 × 80-micron gloss laminate sheets (encapsulated) |
| Canvas Weight | 395gsm HP Professional Matte Canvas |
| Inks | Pigment-based, fade-resistant |
| Optional Hang Rails | Available on Laminated & Canvas (lead time up to 10 working days) |
| Origin | Printed in Australia |
Why Choose This Map
✔ Era-True Snapshot: The Great Lakes region as presented in 1987, with historical context.
✔ Binational Perspective: Seamless view across Canada–US borders, cities, and ports.
✔ Rich Context: Historical notes and visitor highlights make it educational and travel-ready.
✔ Clarity at Scale: Balanced design for wall impact and fine-label legibility.
✔ Archival Craft: Premium substrates and inks preserve contrast, labels, and linework for decades.
Our Commitment
We believe that preserving geography is as important as telling it. Every map is printed locally in Australia using state-of-the-art technology, carefully checked by hand, and packed with care. From the moment it leaves our workshop to the day it hangs on your wall, we ensure quality you can trust and a legacy you’ll be proud to share.
Celebrate North America’s inland seas—order the Great Lakes Wall Map (1987) and turn your space into a conversation.
