Official Texas Brags Map of North America is a jubilant salute to mid-century swagger, conceived by Mark Storm in 1948 and published by John Randolph. It wears its pride on its sleeve, blending geographic orientation with rollicking humor to create a continental panorama anchored by Texas bravado. Storm’s composition captures the postwar American appetite for bold color, big characters, and bigger stories, transforming the familiar outlines of North America into a stage where regional quirks take a bow. This is cartography as conversation—names and places arranged not only to guide the eye, but to spark a grin—distilling the era’s booster spirit into a single, exuberant image. The result is an irresistibly collectible work whose original title telegraphs its delighted sense of mischief and its heartfelt regional affection.

Storm’s playful cartographic style turns information into theater. State boundaries are crisply traced and major rivers glide across the surface, while a carnival of vignettes animates the spaces between. Visual jokes, sly captions, and cartoon flora and fauna turn the map into an illustrated travelogue, as much read as navigated. At the bottom, a decorative compass rose—crowned by a jaunty cowboy—makes true north feel downright companionable. Iconic landmarks appear in a whimsical register, each one a quick wink to recognition, and the labels dance in a lively, hand-drawn font. It is a masterclass in balance: the geography remains legible and coherent, yet the art pulls you closer, rewarding every stop with another narrative flourish.

Texas, naturally, steals the show. The Lone Star State is rendered in vivid, stylized form, drawing the eye with visual motifs of cowboys, cattle, and confident punchlines that echo the state’s legendary “brag” tradition. Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Fort Worth are called out in spirited lettering, their presence tucked among scenes that suggest industry, music, ranch country, and a bustling Gulf horizon. Storm’s wit never overwhelms the map’s clarity; instead, he threads humor through the essential geography, letting rivers, towns, and ranges serve as scaffolding for storytelling. The result is a portrait of Texas identity that feels both celebratory and knowing—larger-than-life yet instantly familiar—inviting viewers to trace pathways of pride across a landscape of affectionate exaggeration.

Beyond Texas, Storm’s North America unfolds as a gallery of regional character. New Orleans and Miami glimmer with coastal energy, while the sweep of the Mississippi, the ramparts of the Rockies, and the satin arcs of the Great Lakes give the continent its grand structure. The cartoon menagerie—desert flora, northern wildlife, and maritime creatures—pops up where it belongs, anchoring each zone in a quick visual shorthand. Landmarks and local customs reappear in cameo after cameo, edited for delight and recognition rather than strict scale. It’s a journey stitched together from place-names and punchlines, a reminder that a map can also be an atlas of stories—reassuringly accurate in outline, gleefully inventive in detail, and endlessly browsable.

Mark Storm’s 1948 creation belongs to the golden age of pictorial mapping, when artists fused reportage and whimsy to summon a nation’s self-image. Published by John Randolph, it channels the postwar American mood—optimistic, mobile, and irresistibly regional—into a single, legible composition. The “brags” are affectionate, not boastful; they reflect a culture pleased to recognize itself in caricature. For collectors of Texana and Americana, the map bridges genres: it is folk art, graphic design, and geography in one frame, a rare example where humor sharpens rather than softens historical insight. Decades on, its colors and characters still do what fine maps always do—orient the viewer—while its wit does something rarer: it orients the spirit, too, toward wonder, memory, and play.

Cities and towns on this map

• Houston
• San Antonio
• Dallas
• Austin
• Fort Worth
• New Orleans (Louisiana)
• Miami (Florida)

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Vividly illustrated state boundaries and major rivers
• Humorous vignettes representing local culture and life events
• Decorative compass rose at the bottom with a cowboy figure
• Cartoon-like illustrations of flora and fauna specific to regions
• Iconic landmarks illustrated in a whimsical style
• Visual motifs of Texas culture, such as cowboys and cattle
• Geographical labels written in a playful, artistic font

Historical and design context

• Map Title: Official Texas Brags Map of North America
• Mapmaker: Created by Mark Storm in 1948, published by John Randolph.
• Publication Year: 1948
• Artistic Context: The map features a colorful and whimsical design, using humorous illustrations and vignettes, making it more than just a geographical tool but also a piece of entertainment.
• Themes: The representation emphasizes fun and imaginative depictions of various regions, showcasing interesting local features and cultural narratives through artful elements.
• Regions Covered: Primarily North America, with a significant focus on the state of Texas, portrayed in a vibrant and stylized manner.
• Style: The map exudes a playful cartographic style with colorful illustrations, incorporating imaginative scenes that complement the geographic details.
• Historical Significance: The artistic design reflects the mid-20th-century American attitude toward regional pride and identity, particularly in Texas, which is often characterized by a spirit of independence and charm.
• Use of Humor: The combination of funny drawings and text contributes to the map’s charm, making it appealing for collectors and those interested in non-traditional representations of geography.

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 70in (180cm). 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.