Andrew Middleton
@mapcenter.com
'Peddler of Wheres,' job creator, Owner at The Map Center in Pawtucket RI- it's like a hip record store but for maps.
www.mapcenter.com
Cartographer, GIS specialist and educator
Linktr.ee/ecoandrewtrc
www.mapcenter.com
Cartographer, GIS specialist and educator
Linktr.ee/ecoandrewtrc
I'm procrastinating so naturally I'm doing a deep dive on the history of The Map Center.
I had been saying it was established in 1953 but I found a source that says 1950 which would make it the oldest map store in the USA. Which is cool. Looking forward to verifying and marketing the crap out of it.
I had been saying it was established in 1953 but I found a source that says 1950 which would make it the oldest map store in the USA. Which is cool. Looking forward to verifying and marketing the crap out of it.
November 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I'm procrastinating so naturally I'm doing a deep dive on the history of The Map Center.
I had been saying it was established in 1953 but I found a source that says 1950 which would make it the oldest map store in the USA. Which is cool. Looking forward to verifying and marketing the crap out of it.
I had been saying it was established in 1953 but I found a source that says 1950 which would make it the oldest map store in the USA. Which is cool. Looking forward to verifying and marketing the crap out of it.
Here @infowetrust.com have an article about the cultural history of map pins and skeumorphism in digital cartography. icaci.org/files/docume...
icaci.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Here @infowetrust.com have an article about the cultural history of map pins and skeumorphism in digital cartography. icaci.org/files/docume...
Found a 1943 map with a stamp for the Educational Exhibition Company on it. Wonder what relationship they had with The Map Center which, as far as I know, was founded a decade later.
November 25, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Found a 1943 map with a stamp for the Educational Exhibition Company on it. Wonder what relationship they had with The Map Center which, as far as I know, was founded a decade later.
One of the reasons I keep telling people that new maps are cooler than old ones is because old maps were made by a very narrow slice of humanity but contemporary maps are made by EVERYONE and they're rad. Here's a quick vid about gender and cartography www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UMSJ3u/
I got a good question from a customer and I tried to answer it. Yeah, most of my customers are men but in the two years I've owned this business it's gotten much closer to gender parity because I cura...
TikTok video by the Map Center
www.tiktok.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:33 PM
One of the reasons I keep telling people that new maps are cooler than old ones is because old maps were made by a very narrow slice of humanity but contemporary maps are made by EVERYONE and they're rad. Here's a quick vid about gender and cartography www.tiktok.com/t/ZP8UMSJ3u/
Waaa waaaa I have to make videos and I don't know what to make them about!
-me
Letter carrier: here have this letter addressed to the Map Center containing a zine from Cape Verde with awesome maps in it.
-me
Letter carrier: here have this letter addressed to the Map Center containing a zine from Cape Verde with awesome maps in it.
November 24, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Waaa waaaa I have to make videos and I don't know what to make them about!
-me
Letter carrier: here have this letter addressed to the Map Center containing a zine from Cape Verde with awesome maps in it.
-me
Letter carrier: here have this letter addressed to the Map Center containing a zine from Cape Verde with awesome maps in it.
Reposted by Andrew Middleton
Reminder that books make awesome gifts for all holiday events, and they taste sweeter when they’re from indie bookstores. Don’t know what to get? Indie bookstores have gift cards!
November 24, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Reminder that books make awesome gifts for all holiday events, and they taste sweeter when they’re from indie bookstores. Don’t know what to get? Indie bookstores have gift cards!
I'm regrettably entering my "Content Creator" era. Made a short video on TikTok about why I think map stores are often assumed to be dad-coded spaces and I'm planning to make more.
Any recommendations for topics? Questions?
Any recommendations for topics? Questions?
November 24, 2025 at 2:32 PM
I'm regrettably entering my "Content Creator" era. Made a short video on TikTok about why I think map stores are often assumed to be dad-coded spaces and I'm planning to make more.
Any recommendations for topics? Questions?
Any recommendations for topics? Questions?
Growing up in the 90s and 2000s, glow-in-the-dark shit was everywhere. Plastic stars to stick on the ceiling, t-shirts, posters, school supplies. Did cheap LEDs largely kill them or am I just not the target demo? Trying to remember the last time someone said "AND check it out it GLOWS IN THE DARK."
November 23, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Growing up in the 90s and 2000s, glow-in-the-dark shit was everywhere. Plastic stars to stick on the ceiling, t-shirts, posters, school supplies. Did cheap LEDs largely kill them or am I just not the target demo? Trying to remember the last time someone said "AND check it out it GLOWS IN THE DARK."
I have now reached "emailing eccentric billionaires" level of small business desperation.
November 22, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I have now reached "emailing eccentric billionaires" level of small business desperation.
By request, here's a thread of books that I think make excellent gifts this holiday season (obviously they're cartographically inclined, you know me)
1. Best anthology
"All Over the Map" by Betsy Mason and Greg Miller
A gorgeous, full color history of maps mind-bending maps from around the world.
1. Best anthology
"All Over the Map" by Betsy Mason and Greg Miller
A gorgeous, full color history of maps mind-bending maps from around the world.
November 21, 2025 at 7:35 PM
By request, here's a thread of books that I think make excellent gifts this holiday season (obviously they're cartographically inclined, you know me)
1. Best anthology
"All Over the Map" by Betsy Mason and Greg Miller
A gorgeous, full color history of maps mind-bending maps from around the world.
1. Best anthology
"All Over the Map" by Betsy Mason and Greg Miller
A gorgeous, full color history of maps mind-bending maps from around the world.
21. Books about maps
As we enter gift-giving season, here’s a reminder that books can make a wonderful present.
The art of selecting a book as a gift, however, isn’t as easy as it may appear. Here are 20 titles to consider.
The art of selecting a book as a gift, however, isn’t as easy as it may appear. Here are 20 titles to consider.
From timeless classics to new hits: 20 must-give books - The Boston Globe
As we enter into the gift-giving season, books can make a wonderful present. Here are a few to check out this season.
trib.al
November 21, 2025 at 7:04 PM
21. Books about maps
Who has midweek flexibility that wants to join me on a quest into Boston?
Did you know there's a room in Boston City Hall where you can see the entire city ✨in miniature?✨
#bpl #LMEC #maps #bostonmaps #localhistory #bostonhistory #bostonmuseum #thingstodoinboston #bostontourism #BOSCityHall
#bpl #LMEC #maps #bostonmaps #localhistory #bostonhistory #bostonmuseum #thingstodoinboston #bostontourism #BOSCityHall
November 21, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Who has midweek flexibility that wants to join me on a quest into Boston?
Nusantara is a city under construction that will become the new capital of Indonesia, replacing Jakarta, a city wracked by environmental problems.
Johannesburg and Cape Town nearly ran out of water in 2020. Now Tehran.
Many centers of power will be relocated out of environmental necessity.
Johannesburg and Cape Town nearly ran out of water in 2020. Now Tehran.
Many centers of power will be relocated out of environmental necessity.
'Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has made Tehran impossible to sustain'
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Iran president says capital move now a necessity as water crisis deepens
Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has mad...
www.iranintl.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Nusantara is a city under construction that will become the new capital of Indonesia, replacing Jakarta, a city wracked by environmental problems.
Johannesburg and Cape Town nearly ran out of water in 2020. Now Tehran.
Many centers of power will be relocated out of environmental necessity.
Johannesburg and Cape Town nearly ran out of water in 2020. Now Tehran.
Many centers of power will be relocated out of environmental necessity.
Really hope this talk I'm watching on GIS and AI gets practical soon because so far the first 15 minutes are about how the project was only done because they got a ton of money from NVIDIA #gisday
November 20, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Really hope this talk I'm watching on GIS and AI gets practical soon because so far the first 15 minutes are about how the project was only done because they got a ton of money from NVIDIA #gisday
Reposted by Andrew Middleton
Museums work as spaces of possibility, sparking wonder and offering hope. To achieve a deeper connection, director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Kirk Johnson, believes in the integrative power of #maps to relate us to our world—how it was and will be. buff.ly/7Cn2WLV
November 20, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Museums work as spaces of possibility, sparking wonder and offering hope. To achieve a deeper connection, director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Kirk Johnson, believes in the integrative power of #maps to relate us to our world—how it was and will be. buff.ly/7Cn2WLV
Reposted by Andrew Middleton
🗺️Posters made it to @mapcenter.com where they met the new “Life After Cars” hard copy by @thewaroncars.bsky.social and the delightful “Walkable Providence” map by @2feet2bucks.com
🎤Live show & book talk at Providence’s Uptown Theater Dec. 2nd!
🎟️Tickets: events.uptownpvd.com/events/life-...
🎤Live show & book talk at Providence’s Uptown Theater Dec. 2nd!
🎟️Tickets: events.uptownpvd.com/events/life-...
November 19, 2025 at 11:57 PM
🗺️Posters made it to @mapcenter.com where they met the new “Life After Cars” hard copy by @thewaroncars.bsky.social and the delightful “Walkable Providence” map by @2feet2bucks.com
🎤Live show & book talk at Providence’s Uptown Theater Dec. 2nd!
🎟️Tickets: events.uptownpvd.com/events/life-...
🎤Live show & book talk at Providence’s Uptown Theater Dec. 2nd!
🎟️Tickets: events.uptownpvd.com/events/life-...
You there, boy! What day is this?
Why sir, it's GIS Day!
My God, they did it all in one night! Say, boy! Do you know the Map Center in Pawtucket?
The one with the globe in the window that's as big as I am?
Sharp lad, that's the one! Here's my Venmo handle just like, charge me whatever it costs
Why sir, it's GIS Day!
My God, they did it all in one night! Say, boy! Do you know the Map Center in Pawtucket?
The one with the globe in the window that's as big as I am?
Sharp lad, that's the one! Here's my Venmo handle just like, charge me whatever it costs
November 19, 2025 at 3:53 PM
You there, boy! What day is this?
Why sir, it's GIS Day!
My God, they did it all in one night! Say, boy! Do you know the Map Center in Pawtucket?
The one with the globe in the window that's as big as I am?
Sharp lad, that's the one! Here's my Venmo handle just like, charge me whatever it costs
Why sir, it's GIS Day!
My God, they did it all in one night! Say, boy! Do you know the Map Center in Pawtucket?
The one with the globe in the window that's as big as I am?
Sharp lad, that's the one! Here's my Venmo handle just like, charge me whatever it costs
Happy GIS Day to all who celebrate!
Just remember that some of us are non-denominational geospatial engineers and many of us prefer Happy Holidays.
Let's be inclusive of our CAD operators, drafters, surveyors and opensource colleagues in addition to ESRI users during these festive times! 🌈
Just remember that some of us are non-denominational geospatial engineers and many of us prefer Happy Holidays.
Let's be inclusive of our CAD operators, drafters, surveyors and opensource colleagues in addition to ESRI users during these festive times! 🌈
November 19, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Happy GIS Day to all who celebrate!
Just remember that some of us are non-denominational geospatial engineers and many of us prefer Happy Holidays.
Let's be inclusive of our CAD operators, drafters, surveyors and opensource colleagues in addition to ESRI users during these festive times! 🌈
Just remember that some of us are non-denominational geospatial engineers and many of us prefer Happy Holidays.
Let's be inclusive of our CAD operators, drafters, surveyors and opensource colleagues in addition to ESRI users during these festive times! 🌈
Reposted by Andrew Middleton
@ihppod.bsky.social the title of the very first chapter is "Politics isn't a Dirty Word".💜 islandpress.org/books/if-you...
If You Want to Win, You've Got to Fight
islandpress.org
November 19, 2025 at 1:48 PM
@ihppod.bsky.social the title of the very first chapter is "Politics isn't a Dirty Word".💜 islandpress.org/books/if-you...
I made a map of all the places in New England that I'm giving a talk at in the next 8 months. If I'm not coming to a town near you, ask your local library to reach out. felt.com/map/Library-...
Library Talks – Felt
The only cloud-native GIS platform.
felt.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:19 PM
I made a map of all the places in New England that I'm giving a talk at in the next 8 months. If I'm not coming to a town near you, ask your local library to reach out. felt.com/map/Library-...
Tonight I'll be giving a talk in Marshfield MA, so come on by and say hi if you're in the nieghborhood!
If you can't make it, perhaps console yourself with this recently released talk I gave about my store in front of an audience of the best cartographers in North America: youtu.be/UPJxjrYcMr4?...
If you can't make it, perhaps console yourself with this recently released talk I gave about my store in front of an audience of the best cartographers in North America: youtu.be/UPJxjrYcMr4?...
November 17, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Tonight I'll be giving a talk in Marshfield MA, so come on by and say hi if you're in the nieghborhood!
If you can't make it, perhaps console yourself with this recently released talk I gave about my store in front of an audience of the best cartographers in North America: youtu.be/UPJxjrYcMr4?...
If you can't make it, perhaps console yourself with this recently released talk I gave about my store in front of an audience of the best cartographers in North America: youtu.be/UPJxjrYcMr4?...
I just did $1,002 in in-person sales this weekend. That's more than the Map Center has ever made in a single weekend while I've been the owner. I had hundreds of folks come through and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Doing my damnedest working through the weekend and making progress.
Doing my damnedest working through the weekend and making progress.
November 16, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I just did $1,002 in in-person sales this weekend. That's more than the Map Center has ever made in a single weekend while I've been the owner. I had hundreds of folks come through and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive.
Doing my damnedest working through the weekend and making progress.
Doing my damnedest working through the weekend and making progress.
So what happened to Atlas Obscura? I feel like they were so hip and cool in like 2017 but they haven't updated the map, there are a ton of dead links and the forums have been closed for years. It's far too a resource to let decline like it has. Is there any hope? Is there any good alternative?
November 16, 2025 at 1:13 AM
So what happened to Atlas Obscura? I feel like they were so hip and cool in like 2017 but they haven't updated the map, there are a ton of dead links and the forums have been closed for years. It's far too a resource to let decline like it has. Is there any hope? Is there any good alternative?
Always delighted to entertain Californians who appreciate my often neglected Californian content.
✔️ Map Center pilgrimage
Also, what's the deal with everyone thanking the bus operator and stopping for pedestrians. Is RI so different from Mass?
Also, what's the deal with everyone thanking the bus operator and stopping for pedestrians. Is RI so different from Mass?
November 15, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Always delighted to entertain Californians who appreciate my often neglected Californian content.
Older gentleman walks into the Map Center and asks if it's true that I'm moving to Providence.
I tell him I'm trying to get a bigger space and that might be in Providence.
He told me he lives in Pawtucket and he'd never go all the way to Providence. But he'd miss me.
It's like 2 miles.
I tell him I'm trying to get a bigger space and that might be in Providence.
He told me he lives in Pawtucket and he'd never go all the way to Providence. But he'd miss me.
It's like 2 miles.
November 15, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Older gentleman walks into the Map Center and asks if it's true that I'm moving to Providence.
I tell him I'm trying to get a bigger space and that might be in Providence.
He told me he lives in Pawtucket and he'd never go all the way to Providence. But he'd miss me.
It's like 2 miles.
I tell him I'm trying to get a bigger space and that might be in Providence.
He told me he lives in Pawtucket and he'd never go all the way to Providence. But he'd miss me.
It's like 2 miles.