The Land Ordinance of 1785 – Historical Wall Map gives classrooms a focused visual reference for one of the most important land policies in early United States history. Passed by Congress on May 20, 1785, the ordinance allowed land sales in the Northwest Territory and established standards that became a model for future public land surveys.
The map shows the seven ranges first surveyed, helping students connect legislation, geography, settlement, and federal land management. It supports lessons on U.S. expansion, the Northwest Territory, surveying systems, land ownership, and the structure of the early republic.
Part of Map Shop’s Classroom Series, this wall map gives teachers a clear way to bring historical geography into daily instruction. Schools that want several history maps in one setup can contact Map Shop about combining multiple classroom maps on a roller system with a backboard.

