Thematic and Design Paradigms in Minnesota’s

Official Highway Maps, 1936-2018

Haley Churchill, Josie Myers, and Dr. Ezra Zeitler | Geography and Anthropology Department, University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire

INTRODUCTION MAPS SELECTED FOR ANALYSIS RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Since the mid-1930s, highway maps distributed by the State of Year of Publication Predominant Theme
Minnesota have become more detailed and comprehensive while 1936 Natural amenities
integrating themes that reflect aspects of the state’s diverse economic 1942 Nationalism during WWII
activities. This study identifies the themes emphasized in Minnesota 1949 Road networks and marketing the Midwest
highway maps, how they have changed over the past century, and how 1960 Road networks and marketing the Midwest
technological advancements in map production have influenced the 1965 Interstate highway system
cartographic elements employed in their design. 1970 Interstate highway system
1979-1980 Urban amenities
LITERATURE REVIEW 1989-1990 Urban amenities
Feminist geography focuses on representation and the inequalities 1999-2000 Natural amenities
within them, as well as the emotions that come with these 2009-2010 Natural amenities
representations. Because of the general disconnect between researchers 2017-2018 Natural amenities
and their subjects, mapping has always exhibited a masculine tone
(McLafferty 2005). Feminist theory focuses on inequalities of race,
ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and more in order to create
representations of how these marginalized groups experience the world
and how power structures in society shape those experiences (D’ gnazio
and Klein 2016).

The process of creating state maps has been virtually the same since
their inception, save for a transition to digital production when it
became relevant. States have taken advantage of the maps as
promotional tools for the interests of the state (Akerman and Block
2005). Within these promotions, there are three dominant cultures: the
culture of transportation and modernization, the culture of promotion,
and the culture of domination (Bockenhauer 1994). All of these cultures The back side of the 1936 edition of Minnesota’s
highway map includes a photo of women reclining
can be seen throughout the years in the Minnesota state highway map.
lakeside, presumably at a rustic Northwoods lakeside
cabin - the quintessential post-war amenity for the
METHODS suburban blue and white collar worker. Similar photos
promote active pursuits for men and passive activities
The back side of the 1936 edition of the Minnesota highway map The back side of the 1989-90 Minnesota highway map
CONTENT ANALYSIS for women.
emphasizes the state’s outdoor amenities emphasizes the state’s cultural amenities
Content analysis is a research technique that utilizes qualitative and
quantitative methods to analyze words, phrases, or photographs in a ENVIRONMENTAL THEMES CONCLUSIONS
text in a replicable and valid manner (Rose 2001). The goal of this Nature’s representation in Minnesota state highway maps Over the past century, the maps have revealed several thematic
research method is to understand the symbolic qualities of texts or has fluctuated over the years, being the focus of the map in paradigms in content: a focus on “Up North” tourism during the
imagery and the way that elements within them symbolize aspects of one decade and pushed aside in favor of infrastructure the 1930s, a focus on wilderness-related tourism during the 1960s
culture, from the policies of social institutions to the values of next. This fluctuation represents changing focus of the and into 1970s, when new interstate and highway systems were
individuals. Minnesota Department of Tourism as well as societal ideals emphasized, and a shift in emphasis towards the state’s urban
in general changing throughout the decades. cultural amenities from the late 1980s to the present. Recent
Numerous aspects of the visual elements on the maps were coded as a scholarship in feminist cartography informed a critical latent
part of the manifest analysis phase of the research. Categories used to
FEMINIST THEMES analysis of the sampled maps highlighted a relatively equitable
classify the imagery included themes relating to natural amenities, urban Feminist theory focuses on the representation of people inclusion of women but revealed problematic representations of
amenities, a mix of each, economic activities, or transportation. Imagery and their experiences, emphasizing social power structures Indigenous peoples, people of color, and other classically
The Minnesota State Seal, which is included in each associated with each. In the decades involved in this study, underrepresented groups. Considering the current print/digital
was also assessed for its relative and absolute location (i.e., urban or edition of the state’s official highway map (1949
rural; Mississippi River headwaters, Minneapolis, etc.), seasons the representation of women and people of color has navigation crossroads in society, we suggest that paper highway
edition pictured here), is full of symbolism that
represented, land cover, and characteristics of people in photos (age, commemorates the conquest of the state’s lands by fluctuated while there has been no representation of the maps still meet the needs of their users and have the potential to
race, sex, etc.). white colonizers. LGBTQIA+ community or people with disabilities. Feminist be more inclusive in their design and thematic content.
analysis reveals representation reflective of the social
problems associated with the decades in which these maps
LIMITATIONS
TIMELINE OF THEMATIC PARADIGMS Our content analysis consisted of ten (computer scanned) maps,
were produced. Inclusive representation may start with
rather than the 50+ in the Minnesota Official State Highway Map
those who create the maps, and diverse cartographers may
archive. Our content analysis was performed three times, by three
dver ses highways system and Mayo bring in diverse perspectives to the creative cartographic
linic in ochester, but the bac side different people to ensure uniformity in responses. However,
is very ar s c and emphasizes nature process.
griculture in southeast MN ma es an
involving perspectives of a variety of people would likely have
Depic on of coloniza on
of Minnesota
Tourist regions of MN, inclusion
of urban and rural a rac ons
appearance, but the focus is cultural
ameni es in urban areas RACIAL THEMES brought different patterns and themes to light.
mphasis on na onal forests
and outdoor recrea on
Photos promoting the state’s natural and scenic amenities ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
in maps between 1936 and 2018 rarely included people of We wish to thank the Department of Geography & Anthropology George S. Simpson
color (92.7% of people in promotional photos included in Fund for providing travel support, alumna Meghan Kelly for advising us on recent
research on feminist approaches to data visualization, and the Minnesota Digital
d usted tourist regions, mphasis on outdoor the maps analyzed were white), but editions published Library for making digital versions of the highway maps available to the public.
adver sement of the tourism, travel, and the
new bridge uni ue o erings of MN after 1989 more consistently include people of color than
previous years. The state seal, which includes an SOURCES
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We thank the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs for supporting this research, and Learning & Technology Services for printing this poster.