The Boston Public Library’s Norman B. Levanthal Map Center is hosting an exhibit of maps, atlases and globes entitled Journeys of the Imagination. The exhibit runs from 21 March 2006 to 18 August 2006. Admission is free.

From the website:

Beginning with the Medieval European world view of three continents (Europe, Africa, and Asia) centered on Jerusalem utilizing T-O diagrams and late 15 th century world maps from some of the earliest printed books, the display will proceed to illustrate how Europeans integrated the concept of a new continent (America) during the 16 th and 17 th centuries, and slowly adopted the concept of Australia and Antarctica in the 18 th and 19 th centuries. There will be a variety of thematic map topics and map projections, demonstrating what data is selected for display and how geographical dimensions are transferred from a sphere to a flat piece of paper, often producing unusual compilations or distortions that support strongly held biases or differing world views.”

An online exhibit will be available in May 2006.

By way of Cartotalk.