Rare Old Map of Kentucky and Tennessee by H.S. Tanner, 1820, featuring Nashville, Louisville, Lexington, Knoxville, and Chattanooga

Immerse yourself in the charm of the past with this exquisite 1820 map of Kentucky and Tennessee by H. S. Tanner. An invaluable piece of history, this map offers a window into a formative era in the development of these significant regions. Crafted with an exquisite eye for detail and a deep understanding of geography, this antique piece is more than a map - it's a vibrant tapestry woven with the threads of early American history.

As a cherished relic from the past, this map highlights an array of settlements that contributed to the richness of Kentucky and Tennessee's history. Each place marked on this map tells a story of its own, with some being centers of trade, seats of power, or hubs of cultural assimilation.

Key settlements in Kentucky include:

• Louisville (1778): Founded by George Rogers Clark, it's one of the oldest cities west of the Appalachian Mountains.
• Lexington (1775): Founded in 1775, Lexington was named in honor of the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts.
• Frankfort (1786): Known for being the state capital and for its historical downtown.
• Paducah (1827): Recognized for its strategic location at the confluence of the Tennessee and the Ohio rivers.
• Owensboro (1817): Known for its vibrant bluegrass music scene and rich barbecue culture.
• Bowling Green (1798): Known for its historical significance during the Civil War.
• Covington (1815): Famous for its well-preserved historic districts.
• Hopkinsville (1796): Known for its annual 'Little Green Men' festival celebrating a claimed alien encounter in 1955.
• Richmond (1798): Known for the Battle of Richmond during the Civil War.
• Madisonville (1807): Known for its rich coal mining history.
• Elizabethtown (1797): Notable for being a gateway to the Bourbon Trail.
• Cumberland (1826): Named after the Cumberland River, it is known for its historic coal mining industry.
• Glasgow (1799): Known for its annual Scottish Highland Games.
• Pikeville (1822): Known for the historic feud between the Hatfield and McCoy families.
• Berea (1855): Notable for Berea College, the first co-educational and racially integrated college in the South.

Key settlements in Tennessee include:

• Nashville (1779): Known as the "Music City," it was founded by James Robertson and John Donelson and served as a major location for the music industry, especially country music.
• Knoxville (1791): This city is notable as the first capital of Tennessee.
• Chattanooga (1816): Chattanooga was an important city for its railroads which played a significant part in the Civil War.
• Clarksville (1785): Named for Revolutionary War hero General George Rogers Clark.
• Jackson (1821): Named after President Andrew Jackson, this city was a center for the railroad industry in the 19th century.
• Murfreesboro (1811): Was the capital of Tennessee from 1818 to 1826.
• Bristol (1852): Recognized as the birthplace of country music.
• Gallatin (1802): Notable for its numerous prehistoric sites and historic plantations.
• Lebanon (1801): Famous for its Wilson County Fair, one of the largest in Tennessee.
• Smyrna (1819): Known for its rich Civil War history.
• Greeneville (1783): Notable as the home of President Andrew Johnson.
• Sevierville (1795): Known for being the hometown of Dolly Parton.
• Shelbyville (1810): Known as the "Walking Horse Capital of the World."

Notable natural features include:

• Cumberland Gap: A pass through the Cumberland Mountains used by Native Americans and early settlers, and now part of the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
• Mammoth Cave: The longest cave system known in the world, located in central Kentucky, and a popular tourist attraction.
• Great Smoky Mountains: The mountain range lining the Tennessee-North Carolina border, home to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the United States.
• Kentucky River: The major waterway in central Kentucky, known for its beautiful palisades.

In the timeframe of 1815-1820, the region experienced significant developments such as:

• The charter of Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky in 1818.
• The admission of Illinois to the Union in 1818, redefining the northern boundary of Kentucky.
• The establishment of the Western and Atlantic Railroad in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1836, which would become a critical logistical point in the American Civil War.

Immerse yourself in a bygone era with this beautifully detailed old map of Kentucky and Tennessee by H. S. Tanner. With its intricate renderings of settlements and topographical features, this map invites you on a journey through history, capturing a pivotal time in the early days of these two vibrant states. Explore the past, admire the artistry, and cherish the stories etched into this rare and precious piece of American heritage.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at all sizes: 12x16in (30.5x41cm), 18x24in (45.5x61cm), 16x20in (40.5x51cm), 24x36in (61x91.5cm), 30x40in (76x101.5cm), 37x50in (94x127cm), 45x60in (114x152.5cm) and 52x70in (132x178cm), but it looks even better when printed large.

I can create beautiful, large prints of this map up to 100in (254cm). Please get in touch if you're looking for larger, customised or different framing options.

The model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45.5x61cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my main collection of USA and North America maps.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

For most orders, delivery time is about 3 working days. Personalised and custom made maps take longer, as I have to do the personalisation and send it to you for approval, which usually takes a day or two.

Please note that for larger framed orders (over 40in/100cm), and some other framed sizes, the delivery time will be closer to 7-10 days.

If you need your order to arrive by a certain date, please contact me before you order so that we can find the best way of making sure you get your order in time.

I print and frame maps in 22 countries around the world. This means your map will be made locally, which cuts down on delivery time and reduces the chance of your map being damaged during delivery. There won't be any extra taxes or duties to pay, and we'll put less CO2 into the air.

All of my maps are well packaged and sent in a rugged tube if unframed, or surrounded by foam if framed.

I try to send out all maps within 1 or 2 days of receiving your order, though some products (like face masks or mugs) can take longer to make.

If you select Express Delivery at checkout your order we will prioritise your order and send it out by 1-day courier (Fedex, DHL, UPS, Parcelforce).

We can sometimes do next-day delivery if you order before 10am. But usually it's best to contact me first before you order.

Read my full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps are also available as a framed canvas. The map is printed on matte (not shiny) canvas, stretched over a box frame, and then 'floated' within a simple wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing in front of your map.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map yourself, please read my map size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your unique map for any reason, contact me for a no-quibble refund.

I am very confident you will like your old map. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and have over 4,000 real 5-star reviews.

I use a unique process to restore my maps that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore the maps. As a result, I guarantee my maps are a cut above the rest - that's why I can offer a no-quibble refund.

Almost all of my maps look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.