America Discovered: A Historical Atlas of North American Exploration

William A. Waiser is a professor of history at the University of
Saskatchewan. He is the author of Saskatchewan’s Playground: A History
of Prince Albert National Park and Park Prisoners: The Untold Story of
Western Canada’s National Parks, 1915–1946

America Discovered is yet another wonderful historical atlas by
award-winning geographer Derek Hayes. Indeed, the handsome volume speaks
to his skills as a historical geographer and his ability to communicate
his great interest in cartography to a popular audience.

Nearly 300 historical maps are carefully reproduced in the atlas and
give the reader an appreciation of how the geography of the North
American continent was unlocked over an almost 500-year period.

What is particularly fascinating is how the land (that is, the shape
and location of geographical features such as rivers, islands, and so
forth) was initially perceived and portrayed. It becomes apparent why
early explorers were sometimes literally “feeling” their way. An
added bonus is Hayes’s well-written text, which not only explains in
clear, concise language the significance of the maps, but also provides
the broader historical context.

One of the other strengths of America Discovered is how Aboriginal
knowledge was used to good benefit by those trying to understand and map
the North America continent. The reliance of the Hudson’s Bay Company
on Native informants is a good example. In fact, maybe the book would
have been more appropriately titled “America Uncovered.”