Awesome Free North Pole Maps
I decided to curate these vintage North Pole maps as I plan to use some in my own Christmas crafting. I thought I would share with here some of the best North Pole maps I found that are free to download.
There is something romantic and mystical about the North Pole. First, the North Pole is of course where Santa lives, making the maps a great resource for Christmas crafting. Secondly, it was one of the last frontiers on Earth to be conquered. A prized destination for the footsteps of adventurous explorers of the late 19th and early 20th Century.
Robert Peary claimed to be the first person to reach the North Pole in 1909. Apparently by using dog sledges. However, many modern explorers have disputed this as they don’t believe it was possible for Peary to have reached the pole on foot in the time he claimed.
The PDF downloaded maps will be of a higher resolution than the images below.
To download the maps just click on the Map title link and a PDF of the map will automatically download to your device.
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THE VINTAGE NORTH POLE MAPS
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1799 Map of the Countries Thirty Degrees Round the North Pole
This is a lovely 1799 map of the northern polar regions by the English map publisher Clement Cruttwell. The region hadn’t been fully explored yet so some of the geographical coastlines are a bit vague.
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1606 Mercator Hondius Map of the Arctic (First Map of the North Pole)
This 1606 colourful vintage North Pole map, is considered to be the world’s first specific map of the Arctic region.
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1741 Covens and Mortier Map of the Northern Hemisphere ( North Pole, Arctic )
This stunning map of is actually a map of the Nothern Hemisphere from the perspective of the Arctic. The writing on both sides of the map (in French on the left side and in Dutch on the right side) is a letter written by Monsieur Swartz, a Danish explorer, regarding his c. 1734 – 1740 explorations near Japan and the Kamchatka Peninsula.
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1855 Colton Map of the North Pole or the Arctic
A rarely seen version of Colton’s map of the North Pole or Arctic. Covers from Lake Baikal, the Hudson Bay, the British Isles and Kamchatka north to the Pole. This map provides an excellent overview of the state Arctic exploration and discovery to about 1855
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Map of the Northern Hemisphere – John Pinkerton 1818
This is a map of the Northern Hemisphere by John Pinkerton from 1818. On a projection from the North Pole, this map depicts North America, Asia, the East Indies, and North Africa. In North America, thanks primarily to the work of Cook in the Pacific Northwest, the coasts are rendered with considerable accuracy.
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1680 North Pole Map by John Seller hydrographer to the King
This is a gorgeous hand coloured engraving. A Polar projection, with the Arctic Circle marked. There are inset maps of Japan and China at top right. The borders are decorated with beautifully illustrated Inuit hunting and European whaling scenes.
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1855 North Pole Map by Captain John Ross
Captain John was a British naval officer and Arctic explorer. He was the uncle of Captain Sir James Clark Ross, RN who explored the Arctic with him and later led expeditions to Antarctica. He was in his 70’s and on his third Arctic expedition when he made this map.
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1875 German Map of the North Pole
German Polar map containing: the countries and oceans from the North Pole to 50 degrees North and so forth, and also an overview of the Russian Empire.
In this collection of classroom geography charts, there is a wonderful geographical Arctic scene, featuring Eskimos, polar bears, and the Northern Lights.
You might also like these maps of old maps of Antarctica or old maps of Europe.
Thank you for these! I’m doing a daily creativity boost class where we’re creating our own maps using pieces of others, and these are perfect!
That sounds like a lovely project. Glad you found the maps useful, there are many more on the site to choose from.
These are so cool! I’m featuring them today at Thursday Favorite Things. Thanks for sharing them!
Thank you so much, I look forward to seeing them.
This is so cool! Pinning it for later.
Thank you, they are lovely.
Thank you, they are lovely.
Wow, these are gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, glad you like them I just love maps.
Very cool maps. I can see a room that has all of them framed and put up on the wall. If only I had a room big enough!
Me too! Thank you.
These are very cool! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you, I’m glad you liked them.
These are way cool maps! I can’t wait to see what you are going to do with them! Thanks for sharing at Party in Your PJs on Grandma Ideas!
Thank you so much. I’m sure I’ll think of something festive to do with these maps.
These are fabulous. We LOVE maps. And, I’ve loved some of the unique projects you’ve had in the past. Thanks for sharing at RTT last week – we hope to see you at this week’s party. xo
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Thank you, I love old maps and finding new ways to display them around the home.
What a pretty collection of maps. I love the colors! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm–pinned!
Thank you so much Cecilia.
These are great, and I know what I would use them for. Thanks for sharing on To Grandma’s House We Go!
Thank you, Chas. I hope you find something fun to do with them.
These are gorgeous! Thanks for offering them.
Thank you, glad you enjoy them
Very Interesting maps, Claire! I guess I had not really thought too much of a map of the north pole, unless it was at Christmas and the little ones were looking for Santa. Sorry, I just had to do that.
Seriously, I do love maps and all of these are fascinating as we see from the viewpoint of other map makers of the same area.
In fact, I recently bought two maps, one of the United States and one of the Southern part (we live in Florida). Now, I just have to find the perfect place to hang them. The Captain’s office is the obvious choice (he is a plane captain), but I am trying to be a bit more creative.
Thank you so much for joining our link party, we appreciate your sharing your post.
Kari@meandmycaptain
Thank you, Kari. I’m sure the maps would look lovely on the wall. I just love maps I don’t know if it’s beacause I was born a bought up abroad (Hong Kong) and have travelled a lot.
Thank you so much for sharing these. I’m going to send them to the local Social Studies Teacher.
Thank you, I’m sure they will enjoy them.