Rand McNally
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Rand McNally is a publisher of maps, globes, and atlases currently based in Skokie, Illinois. The company was formed in 1856 in Chicago by William H. Rand. In 1864, Rand partnered with Andrew McNally to oversee printing of the Chicago Tribune. Their first geography-based product was the Western Railway Guide published in 1869.
During the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, Rand saved the company by burying two printing machines in the sand. The company opened a map department in 1872 and soon became, and has remained, the preeminent publisher of commercial maps in the United States. By 1880, they began printing maps and globes for schools.
The company has always been named "Rand McNally," but is sometimes jocularly referred to as "Rand and McNally," as in the opening to O. Henry's story, A Municipal Report:
- ...it is a rash one who will lay his finger on the map and say: “In this town there can be no romance—what could happen here?” Yes, it is a bold and a rash deed to challenge in one sentence history, romance, and Rand and McNally.
They also published several best-selling literary works, including the Real Mother Goose (1917) and Kon-Tiki (1950).
In 1999, they acquired Thomas Bros. Maps, the prominent mapmaker in Southern California founded in 1915 and best known for the Thomas Guide. Thomas Bros. remains a division of Rand McNally.
Products
- Road/Street/City Maps
Rand McNally's folded maps currently cover all U.S. states and most of Canada. Street-level detail maps are available for many major cities and metro regions. EasyFinder laminated maps are available for all states and most cities as well. Maps also contain comprehensive indexes with population information, travel information, points of interest, travel tips, state/region/city info and much more.
- Road Atlases
Rand McNally's famous Road Atlas has been published annually since 1924. This perennial bestseller covers all US States, Canada and Mexico. Road atlases for truckers are also available as well as pocket atlases and large print versions.
- World Maps/Atlases
Rand McNally has a large line of maps and atlases covering the world.
- Globes
The majority of globes in U.S. classrooms are made by Rand McNally.
- Software
Tripmaker and StreetFinder mapping software and electronic navigational tools like Mobile Travel Tools and IntelliRoute.
- Kids
Children's' maps, atlases and reference books of the US and World
Appearance on Television
Rand McNally was featured as the producer of a globe in The Simpsons episode, Bart vs. Australia, in which it was mistaken by Bart for a continent.
- In fact, in Rand McNally, they wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people. - Lisa Simpson
External link
- Rand McNally (http://www.randmcnally.com)
- Thomas Bros. Maps (http://www.thomas.com)