About Raven Maps & Images
In 1986 in Medford, Oregon, a cartographer and a marketer joined forces with an unconventional idea: to design maps that double as works of fine art. They believed maps could be more than utilitarian—both scientifically accurate and as visually striking as the landscapes they depict. And so, Raven Maps & Images was born.
What started in 1987 with handcrafted large-format topographic state maps—a project completed in 2003—has since flourished into a diverse collection of artistic, elegant, and understated wall maps. Hailed by The Wall Street Journal as “the world's most beautiful maps,” our maps now appear in the halls of state capitals, on film sets (look for them in Sideways, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, and The Accused), on book covers (see John McPhee’s Assembling California) in classrooms, and in the homes of map lovers around the world. We’ve sold more than half a million to date—a dream realized.
Over the years, our maps have developed a distinct aesthetic. A Raven Map is a visually satisfying blend of hues, colors, and lines representing the coming together of cartography and illustration. Each map is detailed, clear, and scientifically accurate to the utmost degree, designed to command the walls they hang on. Their large size reveals the full vista of favorite locations as well as the finest details. As The New York Times described, Raven Maps are “so exquisitely tinted and shaded that mountains seem to rise from the page and valleys appear to be gently cupped by landforms, even though the maps are flat.”
The creative process begins with Raven Maps’ cartographers gathering data from the U.S. Geological Survey and then embellishing each map with topographical nuances, unique shading, and delicate highlights—all while maintaining legibility, clarity, and geographic integrity. At our start, this work was performed painstakingly by hand with steel and sapphire engravers, film sheets, large cameras, blades, and straight-edges, with a single map taking up to a thousand hours to create! Today, digital tools allow for the same range of colors and shadings while leaving more room for experimentation.
So, who are Raven Maps for? People who love the land and are moved by seeing geography come to life. Geography geeks, armchair travelers, bushwhackers, boondockers, art directors, interior decorators, and everyday explorers alike—our birds of a feather.
In 2024, the torch passed from the original founders to East View Map Link, but our mission remains the same: to accurately capture the Earth’s beauty, one map at a time. The Raven Maps catalog continues to grow and evolve, so keep an eye out for new maps!
Want to join our flock?
Explore our collection today, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram, or subscribe to the Raven Journal today!