| | Thumbnail | | Creator | Date | Title / Author / Date / Location | Price | | | Description |
| 7934 |  | Details | Ferran, Arch | 1947 |
| Humorous pictorial map of Concord, Massachusetts |
|
Ferran, Arch |
|
| 1947 |
| LOC:41 |
| $200.00 | Ferran--Arch | Humorous-pictorial-map-of-Concord--Massachusetts | This pictorial map of Concord, Massachusetts and Vicinity was created by Arch Parrish in 1947 and distributed as a complimentary map by the South Bridge Boat House, Inc. The design captures the charm of postwar New England tourism with stylized illustrations of landmarks, forests, and waterways surrounding Concord. The map celebrates both Concord’s rich Revolutionary War history and its literary heritage, presenting the town as a place of reflection, recreation, and natural beauty. Artistic vignettes of trees, bridges, canoes, and historic homes lend a storybook quality to the region’s geography.
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The composition balances historic Concord’s landmarks—such as the Old North Bridge, the Minute Man Statue, and the Old Manse—with the scenic rivers and countryside that made the area famous among writers like Emerson and Thoreau. Roads radiate outward toward neighboring towns including Bedford, Carlisle, Sudbury, and Lincoln, creating a sense of exploration beyond Concord’s borders. The inclusion of small figures, animals, and recreational scenes reflects the local popularity of canoeing, hiking, and sightseeing, all centered on the South Bridge Boat House, a long-standing hub for outdoor activities on the Assabet and Sudbury Rivers.
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At the upper right, the cartographer cleverly distinguishes True North and Magnetic North, acknowledging the map’s playful yet practical intent. The legend identifies key cultural and natural attractions, helping tourists locate historic homes, churches, and mills. Issued at a time when automobile tourism was flourishing, this map served both as a navigational aid and as a souvenir, capturing mid-century nostalgia for Concord’s enduring role in America’s founding and literary imagination.
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