Life in Colonial America

Pictorial map issued in conjunction with the 1957 Jamestown Festival in Virginia.

The “Jamestown Festival” took place over an eighth month period in Virginia during 1957, to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the settlement’s founding. This pictorial map was issued to commemorate the event and provides a historical overview of life in colonial America between the original landing at Jamestown and the Revolution.

Numerous vignettes accompanied by succinct captions highlight many of the important places, people, and events that led to the formation of the United States in the late 18th century. The various flags of colonial America can be seen at the top of the sheet, while a brief paragraph provides a whitewashed summary of the events that led to the conquest of the continent.

The verso shows vivid reproductions of several early important maps of America, including John Smith’s map of Virginia, John White’s map of North Carolina, and surveys of New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and New Orleans.

Published in 1957 by the General Drafting Company on behalf of Esso Oil.