1796 Alberta Map

A map exhibiting all the new discoveries in the interior parts of North America

Only a few details of what is now Alberta on this early map.

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Map File Description

This historical map is Aaron Arrowsmith's "A map exhibiting all the new discoveries in the interior parts of North America," originally published in London in 1796. Highly regarded for its cartographic accuracy at the time, it illustrates the ongoing European exploration of the continent's interior.

It reveals early geographic knowledge of major waterways, detailing the Peace River, Athabasca River, and Lake Athabasca (labeled as "Athapescow Lake"), alongside early fur trading posts like Fort Chipewyan. The map also highlights the territories of Indigenous nations—including the Blackfoot, Blood, and Fall (Aaniiih/Gros Ventre) Indians—and charts the formidable expanse of the Rocky Mountains, labeled here as the "Stony Mountains."

Interesting Alberta Facts: 1796

  • The Fur Trade Rivalry Intensifies: In 1796, the competitive struggle between the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) and the North West Company (NWC) was rapidly expanding into Alberta's interior. Just a year prior, in 1795, rival posts Fort Edmonton (HBC) and Augustus (NWC) were established near modern-day Fort Saskatchewan, serving as vital hubs for the fur trade.
  • David Thompson's Crucial Move: While 1796 found famed explorer and mapmaker David Thompson still working for the Hudson's Bay Company at visually mapping northern pathways, his frustration with the company's lack of support for exploration peaked. The very next year, he famously walked over 80 miles to join the North West Company, a decision that eventually led to his definitive, masterfully detailed mapping of Alberta and western North America.

Description and Facts by Gemini - AI can make mistakes.

Source:
Arrowsmith, A. & Puke, J. (1796) A map exhibiting all the new discoveries in the interior parts of North America. [London: Published Janry. by A. Arrowsmith, no. 24 Rathbone Place, 1796] [Map] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/resource/g3300.ct004297/