Maps as Fun: Imaginary Realms, Tourist Traps, and Literary Itineraries

The University of Miami Special Collections presents “Maps as Fun,” an online edition of its ongoing “Deep Dives” series. Led by Arthur Dunkelman and Cristina Favretto, the program explores five centuries of imaginative cartography, highlighting maps created not to chart real geography, but to spark curiosity and storytelling.

The showcase features a wide range of materials—from whimsical book endpapers and children’s story maps to vintage posters, postcards, brochures, and promotional guides. Together, they reveal how mapmaking has long served as a bridge between creativity and place, inviting readers and travelers to imagine worlds beyond the page.