Simeon De Witt's star map has a long and curious history dating all the way back to its completion in 1780. De Witt was a surveyor for George Washington and the Continental Army, and this highly detailed map shows the stars visible from his post in New Jersey. De Witt later said that his work and the time he spent outside watching the stars gave him an appreciation of "the ever shifting scenery of the skies and all the gorgeous drapery of heaven." This exhibit from the National Museum of American History allows visitors to wander across the map, and explore its historical context through sections like "European Astrolabes". On the site, visitors can also learn a bit more about De Witt's assignments during the war, the history of star maps, and how astronomy in America flourished after the Revolution was over.
Comments