Gadling

I believe there is a mapping gene. That is, there is a gene (I am guessing it is on the Y chromosome, since not many women I know share this passion) that codes for a protein in the brain that creates a passion for maps. I have it.

In fact, I am sitting right here in my home office with a lovely map of the country on my wall, and at work I have maps of new York City and the world. I stare at them every day, not just for directions around the city or to figure out where, for example, the Mississippi runs through Arkansas. But also, at least where the world map is concerned to help me figure out where I'd most like to travel next . Maps are truly one of the most amazing creations of mankind.

So bearing this in mind, I'd like to highlight a post over Boing Boing from earlier in August that discusses the show Los Angeles Mapped, currently on display in Los Angeles through 2007 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The maps are diverse in both subject matter and style, with a finely detailed railroad system map to a movie-star map to a map showing the early Owens Valley. This is way cool, and I only wish I'd been able to drop by the exhibit during my recent trio to LA. Perhaps Neil can go and check it out for us. But if not, the site here actually has some excellent representations online that you can peruse. It is very well done and I have to say that I wish they were selling some of these as well. I'd love to have the map pictured here on my wall as well.

Filed under: Hiking, History, Learning, Business, Festivals and Events, North America, United States, Books