Rand McNally Publishing

04/11/2025

Alright, alright, we couldn’t resist! 😉 We’re officially jumping on the action figure trend to pay tribute to a true hero here at Rand McNally: our incredible Chief Cartographer Tom Vitacco! 🙌

This miniature marvel celebrates the heroics and dedication of our whole GIS team as we gear up to launch the brand new 2026 Road Atlas this Monday.

Get ready for adventure, both big and small! 🗺️ Link in comments to check out the new Road Atlas!

04/04/2025

🤓🗺️ Calling all map lovers!🤓 🗺️

Tomorrow, April 5th, is National Read a Road Map Day! To celebrate, we're hosting a special "Ask a Cartographer" session with our Director of GIS vitacco who will share his secrets to mastering map reading.

Link in comments.

03/18/2025

🤓Map geeks, gather 'round! It's that time of the week...

Ever wonder what hidden gems Rand McNally created beyond the classic road atlas? 🤔 Our cartographer, Tom Vitacco, dives into some fascinating discontinued products in Part 2 of 'Ask a Cartographer'!

From innovative eBooks to travel apps, discover the cartographic challenges and creative triumphs.

Link to blog in comments.

03/11/2025

Map geeks, it's that time!

🗺️ Ever wondered what cool maps and products Rand McNally used to make? 🤔 Our "Ask a Cartographer" series is back, and this week, Tom Vitacco, Rand McNally's Director of GIS, is sharing some of his favorite products we no longer sell.

In Part 1, Tom shares the stories behind the innovative fabMAP (a waterproof, microfiber map!) and the Harley Ride Atlas, a custom atlas that was a biker's dream. 🏍️ Did you know you could clean your glasses with a map? Or that we created custom routes just for Harley riders?

Learn about the cartographic challenges, the unique designs, and why these products are no longer in production. Take a peek behind the curtain of mapmaking history...

👉 Read the full story on our blog. (Link in comments.)

Got a question for Tom? Drop it in the comments below! And stay tuned for Part 2, where he'll reveal even more intriguing Rand McNally treasures.

03/05/2025

Exciting news! Rand McNally continues to hold a spot in Amazon's Top 100 Books of 2025, and we've just moved up 4 places! This is a testament to the enduring value of our maps and travel guides.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/2025/books/ref=zg_bsar_pg_2_books/ref=zg_bsar_pg_2_books?ie=UTF8&pg=2

Thank you to all our loyal customers who have supported us and trust us to help plan your trips.

Explore our collection on Amazon. 👇 Link in comments

Discover Amazon’s Top 100 best-selling products in 2012, 2011, 2010 and beyond. View the Top 100 best sellers for each year, in Amazon Books, Kindle Books, Music, MP3 Songs and Video Games. Browse Amazon’s “Best of 2012 (So Far)” list to find the most popular products throughout the year bas...

03/05/2025

Map geeks, assemble! 🤓 🗺️✨

This week, we're discussing Rand McNally's foray into children's book publishing.

Did you know Rand McNally used to publish children's books? Not only that, they staged elaborate book promotions.

In 1944, Rand McNally published "The Elegant Elephant", written by Russell McCracken about a baby elephant named Eddie and his journey to become “elegant enough” to join the circus. His wife Susanne, a renowned artist who also contributed illustrations to magazines such as Publisher’s Weekly and The New Yorker, added the drawings to the book.

To celebrate the release of "The Elegant Elephant", a promotional tour was conducted for the book which included a real elephant named Judy borrowed from a circus in Wisconsin. The elephant was hoisted up to the third floor of the Marshall Field’s store in Chicago via a freight elevator, where she performed tricks and signed autographs through a stamp held within her trunk. After the signing, Judy did not want to take the elevator back down to the ground level and stormed away causing destruction to the displays and other items in the store. A local zoo suggested the handlers create a make-shift ramp for the elephant which settled Judy down and allowed her to safely return to ground level, but the rest of the event was unfortunately cancelled after the incident.

For the full scoop, click on the link in comments. Also feel free to leave your questions for the cartographer in comments.

02/19/2025

Map geeks, assemble! 🤓 🗺️✨

This week, we're digging into the Rand McNally archives again and sharing part three of our favorite stories from Rand McNally's history, including:

🗺️ Rand McNally Photo-Auto Guides from the 1900s - In the early 1900s, road conditions were generally poor and for the few people with automobiles, traveling on these roads was a risky endeavor. Most roads were just dirt or gravel and had no markings or signs along the route. Paved roads were uncommon so getting around was a challenge, yet most automobile owners were adventurous and wanted to travel with their new machines. Automobile associations began to form, and the demand for better roads increased, so new governmental agencies were created, and more money was allocated for road construction. As the transportation network vastly improved, Rand McNally saw the need to offer products that would assist travelers along their journey. One of those products was the Photo-Auto Guide. Head to the blog to learn more about it.

🗺️ Rand McNally's 20-year participation in the the Tournament of Roses Parade, a New Year's Day tradition since the late 1800s, when horse-drawn carriages covered in flowers were on display at the Valley Hunt Club.

For the full scoop and to see all the vintage photos, click on the link in comments. Also feel free to leave your questions for the cartographer in comments.

02/10/2025

We're excited to share that our 2025 Large Scale Road Atlas has made it onto Amazon's best sellers list! 🎉 A huge thank you to all our loyal customers who've chosen our atlas as their travel companion. We're so proud to be your trusted guide on the road.

Get your copy today and start planning your next adventure!

02/05/2025

Tired of squinting at maps? Our Large Scale Motor Carriers' Road Atlas is 37% LARGER for easy reading! Plus, it's laminated, tear-resistant, and water-resistant. It's built for the road.

Get 25% OFF for a limited time and navigate smarter and safer. Perfect for truckers and RVers! (Link in comments)

02/05/2025

Map geeks, assemble! 🤓 🗺️✨

This week, we're digging into the Rand McNally archives and sharing part two of our favorite stories from Rand McNally's history, including:

🗺️ Rand McNally's role during World War II and how immediately after Germany invaded Poland in 1938, stores across the United States sold out of Rand McNally's map of Europe.

🗺️ Check out some of Rand McNally's unique "bird's eye view" maps. Rand McNally was a pioneer in developing this unique perspective and used this technique in a variety of maps and images. Think about how this “viewing angle” is used today in popular online map engines or GPS devices, which allow users to tilt the perspective or get a 3-D view of a city. Rand McNally was using this technique without any modern technology over 130 years ago.

For the full scoop, click on the link in comments. Also feel free to leave your questions for the cartographer in comments.

01/28/2025

Digital detoxes and screen-free vacations are the latest travel trend. Global search interest for "digital detox retreat" has increased by 50% in the last 12 months.

Unplugged, a cabin company in the UK, offers nature retreats where phones are locked away upon arrival.

Guests get a paper map, Polaroid camera, and a Nokia phone for emergencies. With a 94% occupancy rate and bookings up 209%, it's clear people are craving connection with nature, not notifications. Learn more about this booming trend in disconnecting to reconnect. (Link in comments.)

01/21/2025

Map geeks, assemble! 🤓 🗺️✨

This week, we're digging into the Rand McNally archives and sharing some of our favorite stories from Rand McNally's history, including:

🌕Creating the "Official Map of the Moon" 🌕

🏁The Uniroyal One Lap of America road rally 🏁

✈️Creating maps that Charles Lindbergh used to use early in his flying career ✈️

For the full scoop, click on the link in comments. Also feel free to leave your questions for the cartographer in comments.

01/14/2025

This winter weather has us dreaming about our spring break plans. Have you planned a trip yet?

Maybe it's time to tick off "Road to Hana" on your road trip bucket list. Here's our comprehensive guide including when to go, the 17 most picturesque stops and your packing list.

Discover 17 must-see Road to Hana stops in Maui, from waterfalls to cultural gems. ✓ Plan your Hawaiian adventure today with our helpful insider tips and maps!

01/10/2025

We are deeply saddened to share that the historic Andrew McNally House, built in 1887 by Rand McNally's co-founder, was tragically destroyed by the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California yesterday.

We are heartbroken to see this important piece of history lost in the fire. We extend our deepest sympathies to the homeowners and all those in California impacted by these devastating wildfires.

ABC News has shared an interview with the current owner of the house, providing insight into its history:

Frank Mayor owns the historic mansion that was lost in the Southern California wildfires in Altadena.

01/07/2025

Map geeks, assemble! 🤓🤓 🗺️

Ever wonder what the most challenging part about working in cartography is? Head to the blog for the latest edition of "Ask a Cartographer."

(Link in comments.)

01/07/2025