New Map of New Hampshire Illustrates Cultural Treasures

HEAR YE! HEAR YE!

This month, Brown & Company Design, in partnership with New Hampshire Humanities Council, released an engaging, illustrated and one-of-a-kind map of New Hampshire, designed to showcase the state’s rich culture, called New Hampshire: Our Storied Past and Our Unfolding Future.    (Click title for full article)

The illustrated map, available in print and digital download versions and measuring 24-by-36-inches, brims with more than 250 cultural icons, figures and attractions selected by NH Humanities Council staff and board members. Each logo was created and then "implemented" on the map by Matt Talbot, who worked as the lead designer on this collaborative project.

 “The Humanities Council map project presented a unique creative opportunity for our organization, and we were all excited to participate in the process," said Mary Jo Brown, Founder and President of Brown & Company.  “The challenge was to create a map that would actively inspire people to get out and experience New Hampshire’s cultural richness.”

The map was developed for the New Hampshire Humanities Council as part of the company's Pro Bono Partnership Program hat has been in place since 1999.

“The purpose of the map for us,” said Anne Coughlin, Marketing Director for New Hampshire Humanities Council, “was to literally illustrate the very rich cultural resources we have in New Hampshire and make it clear that the humanities aren’t some theoretical concept, but a key to accessing an exciting and diverse world of history, literature, music, film and ideas that is all around us. Initially, this was planned for our annual report as a way to show, rather than tell, people what the humanities in New Hampshire really mean.” She added: “Either map format will be useful to tourists, teachers, students, New Hampshire families looking for fun and interesting places to visit with their families.”

Deb Watrous, New Hampshire Humanities Council Executive Director, reached out to New Hampshire historians, professors,and humanities leaders for input on significant stories, events, people and places from around the state to generate map content. Matt Talbot designed and incorporated as many slices of New Hampshire history as he could possibly fit.  

“It was very difficult to limit the number of icons,” said Coughlin, “particularly in the longest-settled areas of the state such as Portsmouth and Concord.”

"The tough part of this process was organizing all the pieces. It was like putting together a gigantic puzzle, and in doing that it brought back many memories of my childhood,” said Talbot. “I now have a great checklist of things to do this summer.”

As a creative collaboration, the Culture Map has engendered tremendous pride at the New Hampshire Humanities Council and Brown & Company Design. “There really isn’t anything else like it in the state,” said Coughlin. “This map illustrates New Hampshire’s many cultural and historical events, places and icons in a beautiful, charming and engaging way”.  

The maps are available through the NH Humanities Council and can be ordered on their Web site at www.nhhc.org. They are also available at these retail outlets:

Gibson’s Bookstore, 45 South Main St., Concord, 224-0562; NH Statehouse Visitors’ Center, Main St., 271-2154; Rowland Studios, 23 North Main St, Concord, 225-2322; Toadstool Bookshop, Colony Mill Marketplace, Keene, 352-8815; The Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford St., Manchester, 622-7531; Morgan Hill Bookstore, 253 Main St., New London, 526-5850; River Run Bookstore, 142 Fleet St., Portsmouth, 431-2100.