“Accident,” produced by the United States Geological Survey, presents the McHenry region of western Maryland in the exacting language of early twentieth-century topography. Dated 1900 and carrying a 1933 imprint, it offers a layered historical view: a landscape first surveyed at the turn of the century, then issued in an era when roads, railways, reservoirs, and mountain communities were becoming increasingly legible to federal cartographers. At a scale of 1:62,500, the map balances regional breadth with local precision, encompassing Accident, McHenry, Oakland, Swanton, Deep Creek Lake, the Youghiogheny River, and the surrounding Appalachian uplands. Its title, taken from the distinctive town of Accident, anchors the sheet in one of Maryland’s most evocatively named places.

The US Geological Survey brought to maps like this a disciplined scientific aesthetic, transforming rugged terrain into a readable system of contours, waterways, settlements, and transportation routes. Founded in 1879, the USGS became central to the nation’s understanding of its own physical form, mapping not merely political boundaries but the underlying structure of land itself. Here, that mission is expressed through dense contouring and a clear orange-red elevation scheme, allowing the viewer to sense the rise and fall of the Allegheny landscape at a glance. The sheet reflects an age when topographic mapping was both practical and visionary: essential for engineering, forestry, mining, travel, and land management, yet also a profound act of geographic interpretation.

The terrain around McHenry is the map’s great subject. Contour lines gather and separate across the sheet, tracing ridges, hollows, slopes, and valleys with remarkable delicacy. Backbone Mountain and the high country of Garrett County appear not as scenic abstractions but as measurable forms, their elevations translated into a precise visual rhythm. The Youghiogheny River and its tributaries cut through this relief, revealing the hydrological logic of the region. In and around Deep Creek Lake, the map records a landscape shaped by both natural drainage and human ambition, where water, elevation, and settlement intersect. The result is a compelling portrait of Maryland’s mountain west, far removed from the coastal and Piedmont geographies more often associated with the state.

The towns and roads shown across the sheet evoke a region in transition. Accident, McHenry, Oakland, and Swanton appear within a network of state roads, railways, streams, and rural routes, offering insight into how movement through the mountains was organized in the early twentieth century. Rail lines and roads are particularly revealing, marking the corridors along which timber, agricultural goods, travelers, and industry moved through Garrett County. Oakland, long an important mountain town and transport point, provides a southern anchor, while McHenry and Deep Creek suggest the later recreational identity for which the area became famous. Read historically, the map is not only a record of place, but of access, connectivity, and change.

As a historical document, “Accident” invites comparison between the mapped landscape and the region as it is known today. Herrington Manor State Park, Deep Creek Lake, the forested ridges, and the small mountain communities all stand within a geography whose foundations are made visible through the USGS’s meticulous contour work. The map captures a moment before many modern layers of development had fully transformed the area, preserving the relationship between settlement and terrain with unusual clarity. Its visual beauty lies in its restraint: the disciplined color, the fine engraving of elevation, and the interlacing of streams and roads create a richly textured image of Appalachian Maryland. It is both a scientific survey and an elegant historical portrait of land, water, and human presence.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• McHenry, Maryland
• Accident, Maryland
• Deep Creek Lake
• Youghiogheny River
• Oakland, Maryland
• Swanton, Maryland
• Backbone Mountain
• Herrington Manor State Park
• State roads and railways mapped in the area
• Various lakes and tributaries depicted in the surrounding area

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the US Geological Survey (USGS)
• Historical 1:62,500 topographical map showing McHenry, Maryland and the surrounding area
• Dated 1900 and carries a 1933 imprint
• The US Geological Survey is known for its comprehensive surveys and mapping work across the United States
• Uses contour lines to represent elevation changes
• Features an orange-red color scheme to indicate different elevations and improve readability
• Provides a detailed topographic representation of the terrain around McHenry
• Serves as a snapshot of the geographical and infrastructural layout in 1900
• Useful for comparing historical land use, development, human impact, and natural landscape changes over time

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.