ABSTRACT
People have been using maps to describe their relationships to the world around them since they began to draw on cave walls thousands of years ago. Maps have been venerated as precious objects that represent important information in an easily comprehensible format. The limited tools available for ensuring geographical accuracy were compensated for by creative depictions of significant religious commentary, places, and the culture of the people. Preservationists found the maps invaluable, for the maps contained the only complete listing of the designated landmarks in Lower Manhattan, along with current photographs. Government Agencies such as the Lower Manhattan Development Commission utilized them widely. Engaging the challenge of multiplicities and complex interdependencies involved in cultural mapping forms the core of cultureNow's mandate and research focus. The decision to look at Boston through the lens of cultural mapping began with the knowledge that this city has been culturally navel gazing for a long time.
