The Caribbean Basin Map Collection is an ongoing cooperative project of archives, libaries and museums in Florida and throughout the Caribbean to digitize and provide online access to maps of contemporary and historic Caribbean Basin nations and region, dating from 1564 through the present. The majority of maps in this collection document a colonial past (1564-1926). While many of these maps were originally published as maps independent of any other publication, some were published with atlases, books, government documents, shipping and railroad schedules, land promotions, etc. Maps in this collection include island, municipal, county and parish maps as well as maps depicting the region more broadly.

These maps represent only a small part of the wealth of historical and archival treasures held by the contributing archives, libraries, and museums. Users should note the source of the maps they use and should contact the holding libraries or archives directly for more information.

The Collection is uneven in representation of specific areas as contributions to the Collection reflect the interests of the contributing institutions. Maps in the Caribbean Basin Map Collection include the maps of the Florida Map Collection. Florida is the most frequently represented area within the Caribbean Basin Map Collection because the majority of contributing institutions are based in Florida. Effort is on-going to broaden representation of other specific locations.

Maps in the Caribbean Basin Map Collection are also integrated with the North American Map Collection and the South American Map Collection.
     

The Region: The Caribbean Basin

The Caribbean Basin Map Collection outlines a vast inter-continental region. The Caribbean Basin is defined to include the area stretching from Florida westward along the Gulf Coast waters of the United States of America, along the backbone of Central America and across the sholder of northern South America. The Basin is best defined by the sweeping archipelago that is the West Indies, an arm embracing the Caribbean Sea and the sieve of Atlantic hurricanes. Bound by colonial history, Bermuda is encluded within region, though it is situated in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Caribbean Basin Countries:

Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Bahamas Barbados Belize Bermuda Islands British Virgin Islands Canal Zone Cayman Islands Colombia Costa Rica Cuba Curaçao Dominica Dominican Republic Grenada Guadeloupe Guatemala Guyana Guyane Française (French Guiana) Haiti Honduras Jamaica

Marie Gallante (Guadeloupe) Martinique Mexico Montserrat Netherlands Antilles Nicaragua Panama Puerto Rico Saba (Netherlands Antilles) Saint Eustatius (Netherlands Antilles) Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin (Guadeloupe) Saint Martin (Netherlands Antilles) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saint-Barthelemy (Guadeloupe) El Salvador Surinam Swan Islands (Honduras) Trinidad and Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands United States of America (costal states) Venezuela Virgin Islands of the United States

Geographic Features of the Region:

Antilles Caribbean Sea Central America Greater Antilles

Grenadines Lesser Antilles West Indies Windward Islands

     

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