Entitled “Littleton” and dated 1935, this US Geological Survey topographical map presents northern New Hampshire at the measured, revealing scale of 1:62,500. Centered on Littleton, it captures a region poised between river valley, mountain country, and the broader cultural landscape of the White Mountains. The map’s careful contours show the town not merely as a point on a road, but as a settlement shaped by height, drainage, and passage. The Connecticut River defines the western edge of the region, while the Ammonoosuc River threads through the landscape, linking communities, mills, farms, and routes of travel. As a Depression-era document, it offers a precise glimpse of the terrain and infrastructure of the 1930s.

Littleton appears here as the principal settlement, accompanied by nearby communities including South Littleton, Lisbon, Landaff, and Lyman. The map places these towns within a finely articulated terrain of valleys, ridges, streams, and uplands, showing how settlement followed watercourses and traversable corridors. The Ammonoosuc River and Gale River are especially important features, their valleys serving as natural routes through otherwise broken country. Littleton Falls marks a local landmark where water and industry historically intersected, while the surrounding hills emphasize the town’s position as a gateway to the White Mountains. Roads such as Route 302, Route 116, and State Route 10 reveal the evolving travel network connecting rural northern New Hampshire to wider regional commerce and tourism.

The cartographic style is classic early twentieth-century USGS: disciplined, legible, and rich with topographic intelligence. Contour lines give the map its sculptural quality, translating the rise and fall of the land into an elegant pattern of curves, saddles, and slopes. Color is used with restraint and purpose, distinguishing terrain, waterways, roads, and cultural features while preserving clarity. Hills and valleys around Mount Lula and the surrounding uplands are rendered with enough precision to make the landform immediately intelligible. The result is both scientific and beautiful: a map designed for practical use by engineers, planners, foresters, and travelers, yet possessing the quiet aesthetic authority of a carefully surveyed landscape.

Historically, the map belongs to a period when northern New Hampshire was balancing traditional rural life with increasing mobility, recreation, and resource management. The White Mountain National Forest, established in the early twentieth century, transformed large areas of mountain terrain into federally managed land, reflecting growing concern for watershed protection, forestry, and public access. This sheet hints at that changing relationship between people and landscape: villages remain compact, roads are expanding in importance, and the surrounding forests and rivers continue to define the region’s economic and scenic identity. For anyone interested in land use, transportation, or environmental history, the 1935 Littleton map records a moment before later highways and development reshaped the area.

The US Geological Survey, founded in 1879, became one of the great cartographic institutions of the modern world, and maps like “Littleton” demonstrate why. Its mission was not simply to draw places, but to understand the nation’s geology, water, elevations, resources, and routes with consistent scientific rigor. In this map, that mission is visible in every contour, stream, road, and settlement symbol. Littleton and its neighboring towns are presented as part of a larger natural system, where rivers cut valleys, roads negotiate relief, and communities occupy the most advantageous ground. More than a regional map, it is a beautifully ordered record of northern New Hampshire’s physical character at a defining moment in the twentieth century.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Littleton, New Hampshire
• Connecticut River
• Ammonoosuc River
• White Mountain National Forest
• Mount Lula
• Littleton Falls
• Gale River
• South Littleton
• Lisbon, New Hampshire
• Landaff, New Hampshire
• Lyman, New Hampshire
• Route 302
• Route 116
• State Route 10
• Various contours and elevation changes
• Surrounding hills and valleys
• Debsconeag Lake
• Multiple unnamed streams and water bodies

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the US Geological Survey, this historical 1:62,500 topographical map shows Littleton, New Hampshire, and the surrounding area.
• Dated 1935.
• Created by the US Geological Survey, an agency known for its extensive geological and topographical surveys of the United States.
• The USGS was established in 1879 and played a critical role in mapping and understanding the geography of the United States.
• The map employs a color scheme to represent different elevation levels and terrain features, characteristic of USGS topographical maps from this period.
• Contour lines indicate changes in altitude and illustrate the area’s varied topography.
• The map includes natural land features such as rivers and valleys.
• It provides insight into the geographical layout and infrastructure of the area during the 1930s.
• The map reflects how the region may have changed over time through urban development, natural events, or shifts in land use.

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.