Hixon Forest On the east side of the City of La Crosse, Wisconsin nestles the Hixon Forest, which consists of over 800 acres of bluff-land overlooking the Mississippi River Valley in the heart of the Driftless Region. The large forest preserve is believed to have it roots in Grandad Bluff, the nucleus of the forest […]
Here’s one to throw around during your next cocktail party. The year was 1929, and the date was October 9th. German theologian Gustav Deissmann was rummaging through maps and books housed in the Topkapi Palace library, located in Istanbul, Turkey. While doing so, he discovered one of the most curious antique maps ever made. It […]
You might be wondering what this is and why it is important? Well, simply put, Mappa Mundi is Latin for “map of the world.” Is used in reference to European maps of the world produced during medieval times. Some of them are massive, elaborate, very ornate wall maps, while others are very rudimentary schematic maps […]
So you have finished buying gifts for everyone. Several of the people on your list will receive a custom hand-painted historical map from Great River Arts. Your father is getting one of the antique maps featuring his favorite vacation spot. You’re sure it will be a treasure to him for years to come. Some of […]
Why not give that special person in your life the world this Christmas season? That’s right, with the holidays practically knocking at your door, it’s time to start thinking of the perfect gift for that special someone. Our world map, Nova Totius, will fit the bill nicely. It is classic, timeless, and will make a […]
So what is the difference between being a pirate or a privateer? Well, if you are Jean Lafitte, the difference is merely in pronunciation. We say potAYto, he says potAHto. Let’s unpack this a bit as we explore the fascinating life of one of history’s most successful pirates. His story will definitely give you something […]
Lisa Middleton knows a thing or two about western maps. Her company, Great River Arts, specializes in producing custom maps. Since its inception, she has created hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces for clients scattered across the globe. Her exclusive client list grows each year, because of the quality of her work. That quality has […]
Last week we talked a bit about dragons and maps. We discussed their fantastical depiction, their evolution through time and what they might have been based on. However, there are other reasons for their existence, that unless you knew better, would remain secret. Most people though it was simply due to the fact that people […]
Let’s talk about dragons for a moment. Take a look at any antique map from the 15th or 16th century, then walk forward through time to present day. You can literally see the world take shape, through cartography, as new explorations and discoveries were made. Along with those findings were close encounters of fantastical, never-before-seen […]
So if you snoop around Great River Arts long enough, you are bound to come across a section on our website called “The Vault.” A look at the maps in this section can be a bit puzzling. There are no custom maps. There are no hand painted maps. There is not an antique map reproduction […]
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