- Title: Map Showing the Distribution of Bitumen Throughout the World
- Author: U. S. Dept. of the Interior
- Date: 1884
- Condition: Very Good Plus - light age toning, minor wear and discoloration along issued center fold
- Inches: 16 x 11 1/2 [Paper]
- Centimeters: 40.64 x 29.21 [Paper]
- Product ID: 318033
Map indicating locations around the world rich in bitumen, or asphalt. The substance occurs naturally, as shown on the map; it can also be created as a by-product of crude oil distillation.
Background on Creator
The U.S. Department of the Interior is an executive department of the federal government, established on March 3, 1849, to manage and conserve most federal lands and natural resources in the United States. Its responsibilities include oversight of national parks, wildlife refuges, dams, and reservoirs, as well as the administration of programs for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and several U.S. territories. The DOI manages about one-fifth of the nation's land, primarily through agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. Unlike interior ministries in other countries, which typically handle police and internal security, the U.S. Department of the Interior focuses on land, resource, and cultural management. Its headquarters is in Washington, D.C., and the department is led by the Secretary of the Interior, a Cabinet-level official who reports directly to the President. Over the years, the department has played a central role in the development of America's public lands, conservation efforts, and the administration of Indian affairs.