Published in 1890 by the United States Geological Survey, “Mt. Vernon” presents northern Virginia and the adjoining Maryland country in the disciplined language of late nineteenth-century topography. At a scale of 1:125,000, it captures a landscape still defined by rivers, ridges, farms, turnpikes, and emerging rail corridors, before the explosive suburban growth of the twentieth century transformed the region. Falls Church, Alexandria, and Occoquan appear within a broader geographic web reaching across the Potomac into Montgomery, Prince George’s, and Charles counties, while Loudoun and Prince William counties frame the Virginia side. The title itself evokes George Washington’s Mount Vernon, anchoring the map in a landscape already rich with national memory.

The US Geological Survey was still a young institution when this map was made, having been founded in 1879 to bring scientific rigor and consistency to the mapping of the United States. Its maps were not merely navigational aids, but instruments of national knowledge, recording elevation, drainage, settlement, transportation, and natural resources in a standardized visual language. “Mt. Vernon” reflects that ambition beautifully. Rather than romanticizing the countryside, it organizes it: contour lines measure hills and valleys, waterways are traced with precision, and settlements are placed within the physical structure of the land. The result is both practical and quietly elegant, a portrait of the nation’s capital region as understood through science.

The Potomac River dominates the geography of the map, serving as both a natural boundary and a commercial artery between Virginia and Maryland. Alexandria appears as an established river city, its position reflecting centuries of trade, movement, and political significance near Washington. Smaller communities such as Falls Church and Occoquan are shown before their modern expansion, when roads, railways, and local waterways still determined patterns of settlement. The Occoquan River, winding through Prince William County toward the Potomac, marks a particularly evocative corridor. The later creation of Lake Occoquan would alter this landscape, but here the river valley can still be read in its nineteenth-century form.

The map’s topographical character is one of its great pleasures. Traditional contour lines reveal the gentle but intricate relief of the Piedmont as it descends toward the tidal Potomac, making visible the unnamed hills, stream valleys, and subtle divides that shaped travel and settlement. In an era before aerial photography and digital terrain models, such contour mapping represented a remarkable synthesis of field observation and mathematical precision. The subdued cartographic palette typical of the period allows the terrain to emerge with clarity, emphasizing the relationship between human infrastructure and natural form. Roads and possible railway lines thread through the contours, showing how movement followed the easiest passages across the land.

As a historical document, “Mt. Vernon” offers a compelling view of a region on the cusp of change. In 1890, northern Virginia remained far more rural than the metropolitan landscape known today, while the counties across the Potomac retained a patchwork of farms, villages, river landings, and local roads. The map preserves this earlier geography with remarkable restraint, allowing modern viewers to compare the quiet framework of hills, rivers, and settlements with the dense urban and suburban development that would follow. For collectors, it is especially evocative: a scientifically made map of a nationally significant landscape, recording the terrain around Mount Vernon, Alexandria, Falls Church, and Occoquan at a pivotal moment in American regional history.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Falls Church, Virginia
• Occoquan, Virginia
• Alexandria, Virginia
• Montgomery County, Maryland
• Loudoun County, Virginia
• Prince William County, Virginia
• Prince George's County, Maryland
• Charles County, Maryland
• Potomac River
• Occoquan River
• Lake Occoquan
• Various unnamed hills and valleys indicated by contour lines
• Roads and potential railway lines connecting these areas

Historical context & cartographic details

• Published in 1890 by the US Geological Survey.
• Historical 1:125,000 topographical map titled “Mt. Vernon.”
• Produced by the USGS, a governmental agency established to provide reliable scientific information about the landscape, natural resources, and natural hazards of the United States.
• Features traditional contour lines to represent elevation and relief, characteristic of late 19th-century topographical cartography.
• Uses subdued colors for landforms, reflecting mapping techniques of the period.
• Shows detailed elevation changes, including hills and valleys, useful for understanding the terrain’s character.
• Reflects the geographical and infrastructural landscape of Virginia in 1890.
• Provides insight into urban development and natural features that have since changed significantly or been developed upon.

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.