Cultural Resources GIS Program, NPS

04/19/2021

Two Years Later, Here’s the Latest With Notre-Dame’s Restoration

It's been two years since we all watched Notre Dame Cathedral's devastating fire. As painful as that was, there has been some progress in restoring it!
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/two-years-later-heres-latest-notre-dames-restoration?fbclid=IwAR2v6glGu2eadthcgwE2XiR_YqKgRDgpQBFpuAc7cy7avfEy0Bkwg2PXDEc

After the devastating fire that set the iconic Paris cathedral ablaze, the restorations for the landmark carry on

04/12/2021

Inside Egypt’s 3,000-year-old ‘lost golden city’

Again...not a map, but did you see this amazing discovery? Talk about a city that NEEDS a map!
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/inside-egypt-s-3-000-year-old-lost-golden-city-n1263585

"We spent a lot of time talking about mummies and talking about how they died," one archaeologist said. "This is the ritual of their lives."

04/08/2021

This Bronze Age carved stone is Europe's oldest map

Waiting on that trip to Europe? No matter when you go...you will need a map, right? Check out this one!!
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/bronze-age-slab-map-intl-scli-scn/index.html

A slab of stone, engraved with intricate lines and motifs dating to the Bronze Age, has been revealed to be Europe's oldest map, researchers say.

04/05/2021

Ancient mummies are paraded through the streets of Cairo

OK...we admit...this has nothing to do with historic maps or GIS, but how cool is this???? If you have the time...watch the videos of this parade...it's amazing!!! When will we ever see something like this again?
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/egypt-mummies-cairo-parade/index.html

Ancient mummies of Egypt's royal pharaohs emerged from their resting places Saturday and were paraded through the streets of Cairo in search of a new home.

04/02/2021

Feast on These Recipes From America's National Parks

Planning a socially distanced feast this weekend? Check out some of these recipes from National Parks!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/american-national-parks-recipes

Bring the outdoors to your kitchen with recipes from across the parks system.

03/30/2021

The extraordinary lives of women lighthouse keepers

It's still Women's History Month! Check out this cool article...it's got everything...except a MAP of all the lighthouses....anyone up for a field trip??
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/extraordinary-lives-women-lighthouse-keepers

After years of obscurity, the stories of America's "bravest women" have come out of the shadows.

03/22/2021

Archaeologists find earliest colonial site in Maryland after nearly 90-year search

Check out this discovery at St. Mary's City in MD...next door to us in DC. All thanks to remote sensing!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/03/22/maryland-colonial-site-discovered/

After 300 years, Maryland experts find the historic site of St. Mary’s fort. Archaeologists have located the lost palisade that guarded the state’s first European settlement in 1634.

03/16/2021

The Photographer Who Reimagined the Darkness of the Underground Railroad

Like everyone involved in documenting cultural resources, we take a lot of photographs. Photographs always capture something unique about a resource for documentation purposes, but take a look at this collection which uses photographs to document but also tell an important story!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/dawoud-bey-underground-railroad

How acclaimed artist Dawoud Bey used the landscape to tell the story of the unseen.

03/09/2021

Brief Context & History of the Gin Drinkers Line

We love documenting military history and have worked on many battlefields. Check out this really interesting use of spatial awareness to guide troops through tunnels in WWII. Located in Hong Kong, these tunnels were labeled with London street names to help the British troops navigate through them, and confuse the enemy!
https://www.autosaveredoubt.com/single-post/2017/10/13/brief-context-history-of-the-gin-drinkers-line

The Gin Drinkers Line(GDL) was built as part of a trend in fortification leading up to the Second World War. Wary of the rise of Fascism in Italy and Germany, the French built fortifications along their Eastern border, known as the Maginot Line. Nearby European nations followed suit, building defens...

03/05/2021

Is This Egyptian Site the World’s Oldest Pet Cemetery?

We spend a lot of time mapping and documenting cemeteries of all kinds...but we have yet to work on a pet cemetery. Seems like we have some work to do!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/oldest-pet-cemetery-berenice-egypt

Perhaps, but humans all over the world, from Siberia to Illinois, have a long history of burying animals with respect.

03/01/2021

seems like it's this kind of day today....

seems like it's this kind of day today....

02/23/2021

Are you "attending" the ESRI Fed user conference this year? We are...hope we will "see" you there!

Are you "attending" the ESRI Fed user conference this year? We are...hope we will "see" you there!

02/20/2021

The Most Accurate Flat Map of Earth Yet — Scientific American

We talk a lot about map projections and what they mean...check out this cool map and projection....

https://apple.news/A4W83_rwITk6eU3WrLqUoiA

I usually work on general relativity and cosmology. I have always loved geometrical things. As a kid I was fascinated by map projections. When I was 14, I made a painted globe of Mars based on a flat Mercator Mars map by the astronomer E. M. Antoniadi. Since becoming an emeritus professor at Princet...

02/16/2021

Watch a billion years of tectonic plates moving in one minute - CNN Video

Check out this cool animated view of plates on the earth....what an amazing model!!
https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2021/02/16/earth-history-tectonic-plates-movement-eg-orig.cnn

Scientists researching the interactions between tectonic plates built an animated model of what the Earth may have looked like one billion years ago.

02/11/2021

Philadelphia's 'Building Ghosts' Offer a Glimpse Into Architectural History

Ok...some of us are building geeks and appreciate this article...but it also makes you wonder....is anyone mapping these "ghosts?" What does this tell us about the need to document resources before they are gone??
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/architectural-history-of-philadelphia-rowhouses

Meet a duo on the hunt for remains of demolished rowhouses.

02/08/2021

Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Sites

In 2019 the Historic American Building Survey, Heritage Documentation Programs, NPS, in cooperation with the Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Sites Consortium, documented the Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Sites, including along the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, with photographs and histories.
You can view the story map at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/538fdaaf3d0f4cb69d835cd78ab5515e

A tour of the Alabama African American Civil Rights Heritage Sites

02/05/2021

With No Parade This Year, New Orleans Is Festooned With Mardi Gras 'House Floats'

Mardi Gras is coming! Unfortunately we shouldn't be going, and there are no parades this year....but check out these amazing historic houses decked out as "house floats!"
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mardi-gras-house-floats

They’re uplifting spirits and local artists alike.

02/03/2021

9 Places to Deepen Your Knowledge of the Underground Railroad

Continuing with our Black History Month theme...here are some places you might want to visit to learn more about the Underground Railroad:
https://www.atlasobscura.com/lists/underground-railroad-sites

Stations on the road to freedom.

02/01/2021

It's February!! Let's start out Black History Month right....We put this story map together commemorating 400 years of African-American heritage, taking a look at the projects being undertaken by all the programs in the NPS Washington office!
https://nps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=983a0d0450bf40d29e1c9a54d33dc72f

It's February!! Let's start out Black History Month right....We put this story map together commemorating 400 years of African-American heritage, taking a look at the projects being undertaken by all the programs in the NPS Washington office!
https://nps.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=983a0d0450bf40d29e1c9a54d33dc72f

01/29/2021

Maps for makers: Satirical, political and unusual maps | Europeana Pro

It's Friday...I think, right? Need a distraction? Check out these satirical historic maps...
https://pro.europeana.eu/post/maps-for-makers-unusual-maps

This is the third in a series of blogs dedicated to maps and highlighting Europeana content that can inspire commercial creative reuse by makers.Maps are …

01/25/2021

Mapmaking Taught Skiing’s ‘Rembrandt of Snow’ the Art of Patience

Thinking about snow, or skiing? How do they make those trail maps?? We're making some maps of cultural resource trails...what can we learn from this? Certainly some techniques...and some patience!!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mapmaking-taught-skiing-s-rembrandt-of-snow-the-art-of-patience

James Niehues has spent decades painting finicky trails.

01/20/2021

If you've been watching the inauguration ceremonies you saw the motorcade leave Arlington National Cemetery and cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Find out more about this often overlooked landmark in this Story Map highlighting the historical and engineering documentation done by the Heritage Documentation Programs, NPS.
You can see the Story Map here: https://bit.ly/2OAERuF

If you've been watching the inauguration ceremonies you saw the motorcade leave Arlington National Cemetery and cross the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Find out more about this often overlooked landmark in this Story Map highlighting the historical and engineering documentation done by the Heritage Documentation Programs, NPS.
You can see the Story Map here: https://bit.ly/2OAERuF

01/18/2021

Ancient coffins, burial sites and a funeral temple discovered in Saqqara necropolis will 'rewrite history'

There is a lot of security here in DC in preparation for inauguration day this week. While we can't really get in to the office right now, let's try exploring some other new places, making history of their own!!
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/egypt-saqqara-coffins-intl-scli/index.html

A cache of ancient burial shafts containing hundreds of wooden coffins dating back to the New Kingdom are among a new batch of major discoveries found at Egypt's Saqqara archaeological site.

01/11/2021

National Park Service Commemoration of the 19th Amendment

Happy 136th birthday to Alice Paul. Ms. Paul was a suffragist, feminist, and founder of the National Woman's Party. Her work, and the work of many others, led to the passing of the 19th amendment in 1920.
See what the National Park Service is doing to mark the anniversary of the 19th at: https://arcg.is/1aqeWL

Events and programs that have been held, are planned, or are ongoing that commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment

01/09/2021

An oldy but goody!

Right?!

01/04/2021

2020 Might Be a Year Best Looked at From Above

Ok...it's 2021! Time to look at things from a new perspective, right? Check out some of this aerial eye candy!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/aerials-of-2020

A collection of curious and wondrous views from around the world.

12/31/2020

We're happy to see 2020 in the rear view! Here's hoping 2021 is better for us all!!
Happy New Year!!!

12/29/2020

Ancient snack stall uncovered in Pompeii, revealing bright frescoes and traces of 2,000-year-old street food

I know folks probably ate a lot over the past few weeks, even with smaller gatherings...but it's never a bad thing to have snack options, right? Did you see this discovery from Pompeii???
https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/26/europe/pompeii-shop-archaeology-intl/index.html

Archaeologists in Pompeii, the city buried in a volcanic eruption in 79 AD, have made the extraordinary find of a frescoed hot food and drinks shop that served up the ancient equivalent of street food to Roman passersby.

12/22/2020

Peep These Wondrous Holiday Light Displays Around the World

So...I think we can all agree that 2020 was not one of our best years....let's take a look at some holiday light shows from around the world to get in the mood for a wonderful holiday season, and hopefully a much better 2021!!!!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/holiday-lights-around-the-world

Even in 2020, the world is aglow.

12/18/2020

The Chic Garments Made From WWII Escape Maps

Looking for that last minute gift for historic map lovers? Check this out....it's definitely an interesting use for maps!
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/wwii-silk-maps-clothes

These silk military artifacts have been transformed into hoodies, underwear, and a wedding dress.

12/15/2020

The Italian towns perfect for social distancing

Longing to go on travel somewhere but worried about maintaining social distance? Check out some of these amazing historic places which might fit the bill!
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/italian-towns-perfect-for-social-distancing/index.html

As social distancing becomes the norm across much of the world, Italy's lesser-known destinations are receiving a huge boost.

12/09/2020

Incredible Cave Paintings 8 Miles-Long Discovered Deep in Amazon Forest: The Sistine Chapel of Ancients

Did you see this news? What an amazing discovery!! I hope they are documenting this...and of course, mapping the extent of it!
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/colombian-cave-painting-discovery-hailed-as-sistine/?fbclid=IwAR0Nyd5JGmLwG_Mm44dv0f5Qq2KWzFfmyOYAA3sfB0jFna_tgELGi63s6Nc

An 8-mile long wall of over 10,000 cave paintings was discoverd in Colombia, and is being dubbed the Sistine Chapel of the Ancients.

12/08/2020

Mount Everest is more than two feet taller, China and Nepal announce

So, it's still 2020 and nothing is what we thought it was anymore! Check this out...even Mt. Everest is getting taller! Take a look at how they measured the elevation....
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/12/new-height-of-mount-everest-announced-by-china-and-nepal/

Based on parallel surveys conducted by the two countries, the new height measurement is not yet set in stone as scientists and mapmakers prepare to analyze the findings.

12/04/2020

The race against time to save Pompeii

Need to go on some virtual travel? Check out the new discoveries at Pompeii. While you are at it, consider how we preserve archaeological sites that are interpreted. Mapping and documenting is certainly one way, but Pompeii is an unique situation.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/pompeii-new-excavations-looting/index.html

The bodies of victims of the Vesuvius eruption, including a man and his slave, and three horses, are the latest discoveries at Pompeii. New villas have also been uncovered. But the new excavations are happening because the site is in danger

12/03/2020

Couple finds more than 66 bottles of Prohibition-era whiskey hidden in the walls of their New York home

We need a "feel good" 2020 story right about now! How about these lucky historic home owners???
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/25/us/whiskey-bottles-found-new-york-home-walls-trnd/index.html?fbclid=IwAR3Ak4uh0UvMhObX294Btr4lK5juGj-squSlr3PcCXHWZqF-2obbY9qb6sc

When a New York couple was told their over 100-year-old home was built by a notorious bootlegger, they passed it off as small town legend.