IOWA OFFICIAL MAPS

Notes:
Maps for 1919-30 were apparently designed for internal use by the Highway Commission. The 1931 map seems to be the first planned for public access and use. Maps for 1937, 1939-42, 1945-47, and 1950 B have two different illustrated sides which could be considered the front cover; only one is described here. The 1937 map can also be folded differently with a “Iowa State Parks and Preserves” cover from the State Conservation Commission. Maps for 1938 and 1948-50A have the same illustration on both covers.

In 2002 “regular” at 1” = 12 miles scale and Large Print editions at 1” = 9 miles scale were issued. Apparently these large print editions proved popular, as all succeeding maps are at the 1” = 9 miles scale.

The Iowa DOT reports the following recent reprints: 1986 map delivered March 1986, reprinted in March 1987 and Oct. 1987. 1988 map delivered March 1988, reprinted June 1988, April 1989 and March 1990. 1991 map delivered March 1991, reprinted Feb. 1992 and May 1993. The 1989 and 1990 reprints of the 1988 map and the 1992 reprint of the 1991 map are listed separately here because of detectable differences. Otherwise, reprints are not known to differ from the original printings and thus are not listed separately.

Sponsor(s): Matt Alberts, Bob McDonald

Last updated: 1/11/15 (meg)

Iowa Maps:
1919; reported by Iowa DOT
1920; reported by Iowa DOT
1921; dtd lgnd; probably no cvr (one sided); (seen only as photocopy, original size unknown)
1922; reported by Iowa DOT
1923; reported by Iowa DOT
1924; dtd lgnd (Jan. 1); no cvr (printed one side only); 4.5 x 8
1925; reported by Iowa DOT
1926; reported by Iowa DOT
1927; reported by Iowa DOT
1928; dtd lgnd; probably no cvr (one sided); (seen only as photocopy, original size unknown)
1929; dtd lgnd; probably no cvr (one sided); (seen only as photocopy, original size unknown)
1930; reported by Iowa DOT
1931; dtd cvr; bw txt w/ distance table; 4 x 8
1932; dtd cvr; green with bw photo of hwy thru trees; 4 x 9; (issued for AAA & presumed general issue)
     [2 known printings: {May 1}, {Sep 1}, & 6 reported by Iowa DOT: {Jun}, {Jul}, {Aug}, {Oct}, {Nov}, {Dec}]
1933; dtd cvr; orange & black dwg of st cptl dome & countryside through arch; 3.75 x 8
     [2 known printings: {May 1}, {Jul 1} and 1 reported printing by Iowa DOT: {Oct}]
1934; dtd cvr; green/black dwg of Native American and rural roads; 3.75 x 8
     [1 known printing: {Aug 1} and 2 reported printings by Iowa DOT: {Jan}, {Jun}]
1935; dtd cvr; red/brown dwg of car & covered wagon; 3.75 x 8
     [1 known printing: {Apr 1} and 1 reported printing by Iowa DOT: {Jan}]
1936; dtd cvr; blue/black dwg of car & airplane; 3.75 x 8
     [2 known printings: {Mar 1}, {Aug 1}]
1937; dtd cvr; clr photo of lake; 4 x 7.25
     [3 known printings: { }, {corrected to Sept. 1, 1937}, {corrected to Jan. 1, 1938}]
1938; dtd cvr; clr dwg of bldgs “Statewide Territorial Centennial;” 4 x 7.5
     [3 known printings: { }, {Corrected to July 1, 1938 at top of cvr}, {Yellow band at bottom of cvr with Sep 15}]
1939; dtd cvr; clr photo of curving hwy in autumn; 4 x 7.5
     [2 known printings: { }, {corrected to November 1st, 1939}]
1940; dtd cvr; clr photo of car on rd thru fields; 4 x 7.25
1941; dtd cvr; clr photo of clock tower in winter; 4 x 7.25
1942; dtd cvr; clr dwg of car on rural rd w/ tree on left; 4 x 7.25
1943; no map issued per Iowa DOT
1944; dtd cvr; printed one side only; otherwise same as 1942
1945; dtd cvr; otherwise same as 1942
1946; dtd cvr; clr photo of st cptl bldg “Centennial Highway Map”; 4 x 7.25
1947; dtd cvr; clr photo of trucks on curving hwy; 4 x 7.25
     [2 known printings: { }, {revised to October 1, 1947}]
1948; dtd cvr; clr photo of farm fields; 4 x 7.25
     [2 known printings: { }, {revised to October 1, 1948}]
1949; dtd cvr; clr photo of trucks on curving hwy (same photo as 1947); 4 x 7.25
1950 A; dtd cvr; otherwise same as 1949
1950 B; dtd lgnd; clr photo of trees in autumn; 4.25 x 10.75
1951; dtd lgnd; clr dwg of corn kernel in sunburst; 4 x 7.25
1952; dtd lgnd; clr dwg of corn stalk with rd and hills in bkgrd; 4.25 x 9.5
1953; dtd lgnd; otherwise same as 1952
1954; dtd lgnd; otherwise same as 1952
1955; dtd lgnd; otherwise same as 1952
1956; dtd lgnd; otherwise same as 1952
1957; dtd lgnd; clr dwg factory above cars on fwy in country; 4.25 x 9.5
1958; dtd lgnd; clr dwg of cars on divided hwy; 4.25 x 9.5
1959; dtd lgnd; 4 clr dwgs (tractor, fwy, factory, boat); 4.25 x 9.5
1960; dtd cvr; clr photo of divided hwy between river and RR tracks; 4.25 x 9.5
1961; dtd cvr; clr photo of fwy and bridge; 4.25 x 9.5
1962; dtd cvr; 2 clr photos (sailboats, fwy underpasses); 4.25 x 9.5
1963; dtd cvr; clr aerial photo of fwy stretching far off into distance; 4.25 x 9.5
1964; dtd cvr; clr photo of hwy bridge over rocky stream; 4.25 x 9.25
1965; dtd cvr; 7 clr dwgs (city, factory, fisherman, corn stalk, etc.); 4.25 x 9.25
1966; dtd cvr; clr aerial photo of long hwy bridge; 4.25 x 9.25
1967; dtd cvr; clr photo of fwy in downtown Des Moines; 4.25 x 9.25
1968; dtd cvr; clr photo of fwy bridge crossing Miss. R.; 4.25 x 9.25
1969; dtd cvr; clr photo of fwy rest area; 4.25 x 9.25
1970; dtd cvr; clr photo “Herbert Hoover Presidential Library”; 4.25 x 9.25
1971; dtd cvr; 10 clr dwgs (st cptl bldg at top); 4.25 x 9.25
1972; dtd cvr; 4 clr photos (scenes of 4 seasons); 4.25 x 9.25
1973; dtd cvr; clr painting “Joliet and Marquette”; 4.25 x 9.25
1974; dtd cvr; 6 clr dwgs “Herbert Hoover Centennial Observance”; 4.25 x 9.25
1975; dtd cvr; 5 clr dwgs (st flag, bird, flower, tree, rock); 4.25 x 9.25
1976-77; dtd cvr; dwg of red combine in red/white striped field; 3.75 x 9.25
1977; dtd cvr, map (1977-78); clr dwg of geese flying at sunset; 3.5 x 9.25
1978; dtd cvr; clr dwg of bearded man and st seal; 3.5 x 9.25
1979-80; dtd cvr; 12 sm clr dwgs; 3.5 x 9.25
1980; no map issued per Iowa DOT
1981; dtd cprt; clr dwg of balloons rising over rd thru hills; 3.5 x 9.25
1982; no map issued per Iowa DOT
1983; dtd cprt; clr dwg of tractor and Des Moines skyline; 3.5 x 9.25
1984; no map issued per Iowa DOT
1985; no map issued per Iowa DOT
1986; dtd cprt; 6 clr photos (riverboats, etc.); 3.5 x 9.25
1987; no map issued per Iowa DOT
1988; dtd cprt; 2 clr photos (bikes, riverboat) in quilt; 4.25 x 9
[1989]; reprint; added proposed route of U.S. 20, east of I-35, in Hamilton & Hardin counties, otherwise same as 1988
[1990]; reprint; dtd cprt and different commissioners on back cvr; otherwise same as 1988
1991; dtd cprt; 3 clr photos (riverboat, st cptl bldg, duck) with Fair, Vice Chairman on back cvr; 4.25 x 9
[1992]; reprint; Shull, Vice Chairman; otherwise same as 1991
1993; no map issued per Iowa DOT
1994; dtd back cvr; clr photo “Snake Alley Historic District, Burlington”; 4.25 x 9
1995; dtd back cvr; clr photo “Pikes Peak State Park Overlook”; 4.25 x 9
1996; dtd back cvr; 3 clr photos under sesquicentennial logo; 4.25 x 9
1997; dtd cvr; 3 clr photos & butterfly on yellow map bkgrd; 4.25 x 9
1998; dtd cvr; otherwise same as 1997 exc blue-gray map bkgrd
1999-2000; dtd cvr; bw photo of early aircraft “In 1898 14-yr-old Carl Bates…”; 4.25 x 9
2000; dtd cvr; 3 clr photos (farm, boat, skyline); 4.25 x 9
2001; dtd cvr; 3 clr photos (lake, forest, covered bridge); 4.25 x 9
2002; dtd cvr; 3 clr photos (stream, bicycles, train); 4.25 x 9
     [2 known versions: { }, {Large Print Edition}]
2003; dtd cvr; 3 clr photos (river bridge, bicycler, covered bridge); 4.25 x 9
2004; dtd cvr; 3 clr photos (railroad by river, train, balloons); 4.25 x 9
2005; dtd cvr; 4 clr photos (town along river, etc.); 4.25 x 9
2006; dtd cvr; 7 clr photos (Lincoln Highway Bridge, etc.); 4.25 x 9
2007; dtd cvr; 7 clr photos (bike riders, fireworks, balloons, etc.); 4.25 x 9
2008; dtd cvr; 6 clr photos (bridge, flowers, bikers, snowboarder, sailboat); 4.25 x 9
2009; dtd cvr; 7 clr photos (motorcycle, bicyclists, balloons, barn, water skier, family, sign); 4.25 x 9
2010; dtd cvr; clr photo of people walking across suspension bridge and 3 small photos; 4.25 x 9
2011; dtd cvr; clr photo of state capitol building and 3 small photos; 4.25 x 9
2012; dtd cvr; 5 clr photos (rolling countryside, camping, sculpture, old gas station, bicycling); 4.25 x 9
2013; dtd cvr; clr ph of an arch bridge w/6 small inset photos; 4.25 x 10

Iowa State Conservation Commission (Highway and Outdoor Map):
1937; dtd reverse cvr; green tint photo of lake; 4 x 7.25 (same map as 1937 DOT, see note at top)
1939; reported by Iowa DOT
1940; dtd cprt lrhc; cardboard cover; clr photo of trees along river; 5 x 8.5
1946; dtd cvr; bw photo “Robert Lucas residence at Iowa City…”; 4 x 7.25