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American History Atlas

About this atlas

American History Atlas is a curated encyclopedia of the history of the United States, from the Indigenous societies that long preceded European arrival to the present. It favors a smaller set of carefully sourced, connected entries over a large number of thin ones.

How entries are researched. Each entry is written for the atlas and cites the pages it relies on. Sources are chosen in this order: primary sources (original documents, court opinions, speeches); institutional sources (the National Archives, Library of Congress, National Park Service, Smithsonian, congressional and State Department historians); scholarly work; and reference works, used only for cross-checking. A source is marked verified only after its page was fetched and read and an automated link check passed. Unverified sources are labeled “link not checked.”

Interpretation. Where historians disagree, or where a date or figure is uncertain, entries say so. Court-case entries keep the Court’s ruling separate from later interpretation. Entries try to distinguish the words historical actors used from the terms historians use today.

Images. Images are stored with the site (never hotlinked) and are used only when the source’s own metadata shows they are public domain or openly licensed. When rights can’t be confirmed, the entry shows a placeholder and a link to the original collection instead.

Your data. Saved entries, reading history, read marks, and appearance settings are stored only in your browser. There are no accounts, ads, or trackers.

Offline. Once installed or visited, the atlas keeps pages you’ve opened and entries you’ve saved available without a connection. External source links and pages you haven’t opened need the internet.

Who made this

Made by Alexander

I run an English speaking club about American culture and built this atlas for curious readers and learners. The project keeps growing. On my Telegram channel I share new entries, materials, and stories from America’s past and present.

Telegram: @maybealexander1

The collection

  • Event67
  • Person52
  • Document23
  • Place16
  • Movement15
  • War14
  • Court Case13
  • Concept9
  • Institution8

841 source citations, 841 verified.

Image credits

Base map: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundaries via the us-atlas project (ISC license). Typefaces: Newsreader and Inter (SIL Open Font License).