The best site for Historical US Maps

This San Antonio resident has turned his love of history and lifelong fascination with maps into something unique. For over twenty years and hundreds of thousands of miles on the road, Harvey Fletcher, a decorated WWII hero turned cartographer, has restored over 100 different historical us maps, accurate yet artistic. All part of The Fletcher & Boeselt Cartographer Collection

Starting with a progressive series of territorial boundaries in American history from "North American Indian Tribes" (1653) to "The Original 13 Colonies" to each state and how it looked when they were admitted into the US.

The North American Indian Tribes 1653

There were about 850 thousand Indians populating this land, with about 300 different languages spoken. It is estimated that there were nearly 3,500 diverse tribal groups which migrated across the Bering Strait from Siberia and Mongolia.

Included in this collection is The Republic of Texas map, The Louisiana Purchase, The 35 United States during the Civil War and including American Revolution Battle Sites.

The 13 United States 1787

Each displays important information about that map, decissive battles, dates and happenings as well as anecodotal information.

The American Revolutionary War lasted 7 years. The British Crown finally surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia. The Treaty of Paris signed in 1783 created a new nation. The birth of the United States of America

To understand Americans is to comprehend Freedom

...and so it will be, a never ending constant struggle to remain free from any type of tyranny. David Crockett died at the Alamo fighting for the same cause his father fought for at Bunker Hill.

All are availible in full color, all the maps in his collection have been hand drawn and digitaly reproduced. All are based on accurate USGS data.

Harvey Fletcher and World War II

Harvey graduated from Kirkwood High, St. Louis County, MO> June, 1941.

Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii December 7, 1941. FDR declares war on Japan, Germany and Italy. By 1942 every teenager in the United States wanted to join-up and fight back!

However, permission to enlist was required by the young teen's parents. Many parents said OK, however Harvey's parents said lets wait until Uncle Sam calls on you. Harvey anxiously waited and waited and waited, until February 1943, a whole year had come and gone, finally! An invitation to join the United States Army yipee!! Harvey was ready to fight, ready to win.

He was assigned to the 44th Infantry Division, a New Jersey National Guard outfit, stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. Basic training came first. Harvey was assigned to I Company, Third Battalion, 324th Infantry Regiment. His home for the next three years. After a year of rigorous combat training and war maneuvers, he was promoted to a buck sergeant, as an assistant squad leader, 2nd Platoon, I Company.

The 44th Infanty Division was order to the European Theater of war to support the invasion of France. The 324th Infantry Regiment was assigned the mission of spear heading south through France, liberating the French towns and villages, then, meet-up with the troops from the "2nd Invasion". This was U.S. combat troops who were engaged in the southern invasion of France from the Mediterranean. After mission accomplished, the 324th Regiment received orders to advance in an easterly direction toward the Rhine River, which separates France from Germany.

Liberating France was our immediate objective. The movement east brought the 324th Regiment to the foothills of the Vosges Mountain Range. A very important mountain pass lay ahead. General Patton needed this particular mountain pass secured so his Armored Divisions could race through into the Alsacian Plains, then accelerate on to the city of Strasbourgh.

Fletcher was selected to lead a combat patrol through this Vosges Mountain Pass and secure all the French villages along the pass to make sure it was absolutely secure, to allow Patton's Armored Divisions clear sailing into the plains. Fletcher's patrol secured the entire pass, however, lost one third of his patrol at the final bend into the plains. The 44th Infantry Division and the 324th Regiment were the first American troops to reach the Rhine River.