Preserving the past and advancing the future of maps

Learn about our collections

Inspiring learning through map education

Resources for teachers and students

Digital humanities bring geography alive

Explore digital projects

Reference and research for everyone

See what you can learn

What’s new?

Next event Unconventional Views of the World — From the Vault Collections Showing Sep 19, 2025 · More events
Latest article Tracing the Copy Sep 12, 2025 · More articles
We’re Hiring: Administrative Coordinator Our team is looking to fill a new full-time role of Administrative Coordinator. Apply by September 23.
Today’s hours Wednesday 1 pm – 7 pm · More hours

For everyone

We offer a wide spectrum of services and activities for the general public

For K-12 teachers

Our educator resources support teachers in fields ranging from geography and social studies to STEM and world history

For researchers

Our collections open up countless ways of exploring people and places around the world, and we welcome researchers from all walks of life

Digital tools

Explore our collections and discover the world of historical geography from home

Search digital collections

Make a quick search of our main Digital Collections portal. For more, see Searching the Collections.

Explore Revolutionary history through geography

Our exhibition Terrains of Independence is currently on display at our free gallery at the Central Library in Copley Square.

Plan a visit

Upcoming Events

All events

19
Sep

Unconventional Views of the World — From the Vault Collections Showing

Author Talk: Michael Glass on Debt and Inequality in Suburban America

Creepy Cartography — From the Vault Collections Showing

Articles

All articles

Sep 12, 2025
Mimi Cheng

Tracing the Copy

Two maps of Beijing from the MacLean Collection

Read

Sep 5, 2025
Julia Williams

Highlights From The Vault — The Best State Around: Historic, Promotional State Maps

Check out these highlights from the September 5, 2025 From The Vault — The Best State Around: Historic, Promotional State Maps.

Read

Aug 22, 2025
Artem Sereda

Highlights From The Vault — Street Imperialism: Cities at the Onset of Colonization

Check out these highlights from the August 22, 2025 From The Vault — Street Imperialism: Cities at the Onset of Colonization. This collections showing event was specially curated by our Visitor Services & Exhibition Assistant, Artem Sereda.

Read

All articles

Preserving the past and advancing the future of maps

Inspiring learning through map education

Digital humanities bring geography alive

Reference and research for everyone

Streaming live now

What’s new?

For everyone

For K-12 teachers

For researchers

Digital tools

Search digital collections

Explore Revolutionary history through geography

Upcoming Events

Unconventional Views of the World — From the Vault Collections Showing

from the vault

Author Talk: Michael Glass on Debt and Inequality in Suburban America

Author talk

Creepy Cartography — From the Vault Collections Showing

from the vault

Articles

Tracing the Copy

Highlights From The Vault — The Best State Around: Historic, Promotional State Maps

Highlights From The Vault — Street Imperialism: Cities at the Onset of Colonization