Geological Map of Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky

Antique geologic map of the Midwest showing coal deposits throughout.

The United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S) was founded in 1879 with the purpose to of “classification of the public lands, and examination of the geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain.” A need for accurate surveys was becoming increasingly necessary, as the U.S. obtained huge swathes of territory from France after the Louisiana Purchase (1803) and from Mexico after the Mexican-American War (1848). This image was printed in 1890 as part of the U.S.G.S annual report to congress, and was prepared under the supervision of John Wesley Powell, the second director of the organization. Powell is most famous for leading a famous geographic expedition down the Green and Colorado rivers, as well as the first sponsored survey of the Grand Canyon. The map shows the age of the bedrock in Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Ohio and Kentucky, in addition to the vast coal measures that would bring significant economic development to those states.