Help me find and buy cool maps in Ohio

June 26, 2007 6:49 AM

Where can I browse and purchase antique maps in Ohio, specifically Columbus?

I'd like to get some topographic, geologic, or land-owner maps of Ohio or Indiana for my new apartment (maps of other places might be cool, too). Though eBay is nice, I'd really like to be able to go to a store and see the color intensity, size, and condition of a map before I buy it. I live close to Columbus but wouldn't mind taking a road trip to Cleveland or Cincinnati (or Pittsburgh, for that matter). Does anyone know if a store like this exists in the uncultured Midwest? Should I just go to a flea market?

posted by billysumday to Shopping (6 answers total)

I don't have a direct answer, but this is the guy I would ask for Ohio-related maps. Us map geeks love to talk about this stuff, so I'm guessing he wouldn't mind an e-mail from a random person.
posted by desjardins at 7:25 AM on June 26, 2007

Just for the record, the midwest (and Ohio in particular) is ground zero for much of the antiques trade...and a whole lot of the items headed to NYC come through these parts at some point....

that being said, there are few antique map shops in Ohio, or, really, none that i can find. there are several in New York, and it might be worth a trip there to see them in person. I doubt it's culture that takes them to the Big Apple, but rather population density, since a map shop might have trouble surviving in a small metropolitan area....

There are many maps for sale, but you'll have to just search antique malls and shops, and consult with dealers if you must see them in person...

Also inquire about return policies...for online sellers
posted by Salvatorparadise at 7:36 AM on June 26, 2007

I think -- though I am definitely not sure -- that I saw some old maps at Echoes at High & Lincoln in the Short North. If you have some time, you could stop in and check. They have a lot of nice things there, and make their own soap and candles, so your visit might not be a total waste if they don't have any.

Also, the Ohio Historical Center (that giant black square off 71 which, as a mastodon, you might enjoy visiting) has some reproduction historical-type maps (native american tribes, underground railroad, old territory maps, etc) in ye olde gifte shoppe.
posted by fidelity at 9:07 AM on June 26, 2007

Have you been to Heart of Ohio yet? We've found many great treasures there, including a wall-sized map of the US circa 1900.
posted by Oriole Adams at 10:26 AM on June 26, 2007

i second heart of ohio

i heart heart of ohio in fact
posted by Salvatorparadise at 10:59 AM on June 26, 2007

Here is an interesting site with online historical maps, including some of Ohio.

http://www.davidrumsey.com/
posted by tbird at 10:15 PM on June 27, 2007