Rare Old Map of Lake Norman, North Carolina by USGS, 1970: Mooresville, Denver & Catawba River
Restaurata nel nostro laboratorio dalla mappa originale del 1977 e stampata in qualità museale. Descrizione completa
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Scegli due opere idonee e ricevi il 20% di sconto su entrambe. Scegline tre e quella al prezzo più basso è in omaggio, con un risparmio massimo del 33%.
Abbina liberamente mappe standard idonee e stampe d’arte fine art. Non è richiesto alcun codice; l’offerta viene applicata automaticamente al checkout.
Sono incluse le configurazioni standard su ordinazione. Sono esclusi formati su misura, design personalizzati e lavori su commissione.
Hai bisogno di consegne a indirizzi diversi? Contattaci prima di effettuare l’ordine.L’offerta del Collezionista
Scegli due opere idonee e ricevi il 20% di sconto su entrambe. Scegline tre e quella al prezzo più basso è in omaggio, con un risparmio massimo del 33%.
Abbina liberamente mappe standard idonee e stampe d’arte fine art. Non è richiesto alcun codice; l’offerta viene applicata automaticamente al checkout.
Sono incluse le configurazioni standard su ordinazione. Sono esclusi formati su misura, design personalizzati e lavori su commissione.
Hai bisogno di consegne a indirizzi diversi? Contattaci prima di effettuare l’ordine.
Restaurato a Londra • Stampato e incorniciato in Canada
Restaurata dalla mappa originale del 1977 e stampata in qualità museale. Descrizione completa
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Gift message & custom finish
If you want to add a gift message, or a finish (jigsaw, aluminium board, etc.) that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
You can also contact us before you order, if you prefer!
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Published in 1977 using survey data from 1970, “Lake Norman North” presents a finely detailed US Geological Survey portrait of one of...
Continua a leggerePublished in 1977 using survey data from 1970, “Lake Norman North” presents a finely detailed US Geological Survey portrait of one of North Carolina’s defining modern waterways. At 1:24,000 scale, the map captures the northern reaches of Lake Norman with the precision and clarity for which the USGS is renowned. Blue expanses and sinuous shorelines trace the lake’s many coves, inlets, and watercourses, while greens and contour lines articulate the surrounding Piedmont terrain. More than a practical topographic document, it records a moment in the early life of a rapidly changing region, when the lake’s recreational promise and residential future were beginning to reshape the landscape.
Lake Norman itself dominates the composition, its branching form following the impounded course of the Catawba River. Created in the 1960s by the construction of Cowans Ford Dam, the lake quickly became both a hydroelectric resource and a magnet for boating, fishing, and lakeside development. This map preserves the character of the area shortly after that transformation, showing the interplay between water, woods, lowlands, roads, and emerging communities. The shoreline is especially compelling, revealing the fragmented geometry of peninsulas and sheltered coves that would later become coveted residential and recreational locations. Creeks, access points, and wooded margins give the map a sense of discovery and movement.
The surrounding towns and transport routes reveal the human framework of the region. Denver appears to the west of the lake, while Mooresville, Cornelius, and Huntersville anchor the broader geography of the Lake Norman corridor. Highway 73 and Interstate 77 point to the growing importance of road connections between Charlotte, the Catawba Valley, and the expanding suburbs to the north. In the 1970s, these routes were helping convert a once more rural landscape into a connected residential and recreational district. Seen today, the map offers a fascinating baseline for understanding subsequent growth, before many later neighborhoods, marinas, commercial centers, and lakeside developments fully transformed the area.
The cartographic style is classic late twentieth-century USGS: disciplined, information-rich, and beautifully legible. Contour lines describe the rolling hills around the lake, conveying subtle changes in elevation across a landscape of ridges, hollows, and stream valleys. The water is rendered in vivid blue, standing out against the greens and pale tones of land, forest, roads, and settlement. Smaller creeks and inlets appear as delicate tributary lines feeding the larger reservoir, while lowlands and wooded tracts suggest the natural setting that framed early Lake Norman recreation. This combination of scientific precision and visual balance gives the map enduring appeal as both a geographic record and a handsome design object.
As a historical document, “Lake Norman North” is particularly evocative because it captures the area at a threshold. The reservoir was already established, yet the full scale of its later suburban and leisure development was still unfolding. Parks, recreation sites, watercraft access points, and residential areas appear alongside forested land and quieter rural stretches, revealing a landscape in transition. For anyone interested in North Carolina history, urban growth, outdoor recreation, or the evolution of the Charlotte metropolitan region, the map offers a richly layered view of place and time. It is a portrait of Lake Norman before it became one of the Southeast’s most recognizable lakefront communities.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Lake Norman
- Catawba River
- Denver
- Mooresville
- Huntersville
- Cornelius
- Highway 73
- Interstate 77
- Smaller creeks and inlets
- Residential areas surrounding the lake
- Parks and recreation sites along the shoreline
- Watercraft access points
- Forested areas and lowlands adjacent to the lake
Historical context & cartographic details
- Produced by the US Geological Survey as a historical 1:24,000 topographical map of Lake Norman and the surrounding area in North Carolina
- Created in 1970 and published with a 1977 imprint
- Shows Lake Norman, a major recreational area known for boating and fishing
- Uses a vibrant color palette, with blue for water bodies and green tones for land elevations
- Includes contour lines showing elevation changes and the hilly terrain around Lake Norman
- Serves as a historical reference for comparing 1970s land use and population patterns with the area’s later growth
- Documents Lake Norman before its further development into a major residential and recreational hub
Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.
Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.
The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.
Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.
Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.
This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.
For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.
Published in 1977 using survey data from 1970, “Lake Norman North” presents a finely detailed US Geological Survey portrait of one of North Carolina’s defining modern waterways. At 1:24,000 scale, the map captures the northern reaches of Lake Norman with the precision and clarity for which the USGS is renowned. Blue expanses and sinuous shorelines trace the lake’s many coves, inlets, and watercourses, while greens and contour lines articulate the surrounding Piedmont terrain. More than a practical topographic document, it records a moment in the early life of a rapidly changing region, when the lake’s recreational promise and residential future were beginning to reshape the landscape.
Lake Norman itself dominates the composition, its branching form following the impounded course of the Catawba River. Created in the 1960s by the construction of Cowans Ford Dam, the lake quickly became both a hydroelectric resource and a magnet for boating, fishing, and lakeside development. This map preserves the character of the area shortly after that transformation, showing the interplay between water, woods, lowlands, roads, and emerging communities. The shoreline is especially compelling, revealing the fragmented geometry of peninsulas and sheltered coves that would later become coveted residential and recreational locations. Creeks, access points, and wooded margins give the map a sense of discovery and movement.
The surrounding towns and transport routes reveal the human framework of the region. Denver appears to the west of the lake, while Mooresville, Cornelius, and Huntersville anchor the broader geography of the Lake Norman corridor. Highway 73 and Interstate 77 point to the growing importance of road connections between Charlotte, the Catawba Valley, and the expanding suburbs to the north. In the 1970s, these routes were helping convert a once more rural landscape into a connected residential and recreational district. Seen today, the map offers a fascinating baseline for understanding subsequent growth, before many later neighborhoods, marinas, commercial centers, and lakeside developments fully transformed the area.
The cartographic style is classic late twentieth-century USGS: disciplined, information-rich, and beautifully legible. Contour lines describe the rolling hills around the lake, conveying subtle changes in elevation across a landscape of ridges, hollows, and stream valleys. The water is rendered in vivid blue, standing out against the greens and pale tones of land, forest, roads, and settlement. Smaller creeks and inlets appear as delicate tributary lines feeding the larger reservoir, while lowlands and wooded tracts suggest the natural setting that framed early Lake Norman recreation. This combination of scientific precision and visual balance gives the map enduring appeal as both a geographic record and a handsome design object.
As a historical document, “Lake Norman North” is particularly evocative because it captures the area at a threshold. The reservoir was already established, yet the full scale of its later suburban and leisure development was still unfolding. Parks, recreation sites, watercraft access points, and residential areas appear alongside forested land and quieter rural stretches, revealing a landscape in transition. For anyone interested in North Carolina history, urban growth, outdoor recreation, or the evolution of the Charlotte metropolitan region, the map offers a richly layered view of place and time. It is a portrait of Lake Norman before it became one of the Southeast’s most recognizable lakefront communities.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Lake Norman
- Catawba River
- Denver
- Mooresville
- Huntersville
- Cornelius
- Highway 73
- Interstate 77
- Smaller creeks and inlets
- Residential areas surrounding the lake
- Parks and recreation sites along the shoreline
- Watercraft access points
- Forested areas and lowlands adjacent to the lake
Historical context & cartographic details
- Produced by the US Geological Survey as a historical 1:24,000 topographical map of Lake Norman and the surrounding area in North Carolina
- Created in 1970 and published with a 1977 imprint
- Shows Lake Norman, a major recreational area known for boating and fishing
- Uses a vibrant color palette, with blue for water bodies and green tones for land elevations
- Includes contour lines showing elevation changes and the hilly terrain around Lake Norman
- Serves as a historical reference for comparing 1970s land use and population patterns with the area’s later growth
- Documents Lake Norman before its further development into a major residential and recreational hub
Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.
Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.
The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.
Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.
Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.
This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.
For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.
Molte delle nostre mappe e stampe d’arte vengono scelte come regali premurosi per case, uffici, studi e luoghi significativi.
Scegli un’opzione incorniciata per il regalo più semplice, pronto da appendere, oppure scegli una stampa non incorniciata se il destinatario preferisce selezionare la propria cornice.
Realizziamo gli ordini localmente in 23 paesi in tutto il mondo, così i regali possono spesso essere prodotti vicino al destinatario. Questo li aiuta ad arrivare più rapidamente, a viaggiare in maggiore sicurezza e a evitare sorprese legate a dazi doganali o di importazione.
- Possiamo consegnare direttamente al destinatario
- I pezzi incorniciati arrivano pronti da appendere
- Le stampe non incorniciate sono accuratamente imballate in un robusto tubo protettivo
- Quasi ogni ordine viene realizzato localmente, per regali più rapidi e sicuri
- Il reso entro 90 giorni dà al destinatario il tempo di decidere
Se non sei sicuro di cosa scegliere, ti invitiamo a contattarci. Possiamo aiutarti a scegliere la mappa, il formato, la finitura o l’opzione di consegna più adatti.
Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.
We print and frame maps and artwork in 24 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.
Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.
Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.
Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.
If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.
Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.
Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.
Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.
We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.
Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.
Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.
All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.
If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.
Lavoriamo con interior designer, strutture ricettive, professionisti del settore immobiliare, uffici e acquirenti aziendali su singoli pezzi e su progetti coordinati di più ampia portata.
Questa mappa può essere adattata a una particolare parete, stanza o progetto, e il nostro laboratorio può aiutare a coordinare dimensioni, materiale e incorniciatura prima della produzione.
- Dimensioni precise, extra-large e su misura
- Incorniciatura, montaggio e materiali alternativi personalizzati
- Pezzi coordinati per più stanze o sedi
- Personalizzazione della mappa, per evidenziare luoghi importanti o aggiungere dettagli supplementari
- Consulenza su mappa e incorniciatura dal nostro laboratorio
- Produzione locale per progetti in tutto il mondo
Every Unique Maps piece begins with an authentic cartographic source or an original design from our London studio.
For our historic maps, we source rare originals from libraries, archives, auction houses and private collections around the world. We carefully restore each map for print—repairing age-related damage, balancing colour and improving clarity while preserving its original detail, texture and character.
Once restored, the map is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.
Our map prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks, creating a rich, non-glossy finish designed to last. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
Canvas, cotton-rag and other specialist presentations are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.
Personalising your map
You can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. For personalised designs, we send a proof before printing and you can request changes before approval.
For more complex bespoke commissions, contact our design team.
Original or Aged
Choose Original for true-to-source colour, or Aged for a warmer, richer antique character created with our specialist ageing process. See examples of our Aged maps.
Restauriamo e produciamo mappe e stampe d’arte dal 1984, e garantiamo personalmente ogni pezzo.
Ogni ordine è coperto dalla nostra garanzia di 10 anni e dalla garanzia di consegna senza danni. Se il vostro pezzo arriva danneggiato, lo sostituiremo o lo rifaremo gratuitamente. Se qualsiasi altro aspetto non fosse conforme, contattate il nostro team di laboratorio e provvederemo tempestivamente a risolvere il problema.
Per tutti i dettagli, consultate la nostra politica su resi e rimborsi.
Oppure cerca qualcosa nel negozio.
