NGM Blog Central - Senators: Can You Draw Your State? - National Geographic Magazine

Senators are elected to represent their states, but we may be the first to ask them to do it on a square the size of a cocktail napkin. To celebrate Geography Awareness Week (November 15 – 21), which this year has a special focus on mapping, we invited all 100 to draw a map of their home state from memory and to identify at least three places that are important to them.

Of course, this would be child's play to Minnesota's Al Franken, who has wowed crowds and won renown with his cartographic renderings. Here's a video of him creating an outline map of the United States at the Minnesota State Fair:

But we knew that senators could offer additional insight with their own sketches, and they didn’t disappoint. We haven't heard from all 100 yet, but the first batch of responses are great fun! Our fledgling mapmakers highlighted hometowns and natural wonders, local sports teams and major industries, the birthplaces of their children and their own childhood hangouts. Even comic book heroes showed up: See the contribution above from Richard Durbin of Illinois, who put the self-proclaimed home of Superman on the map.

Click to launch our interactive gallery Then grab a pencil and try it yourself.

—Brad Scriber

Posted by Marc Silver | Comments (7)
Filed Under: Geography, Pop Omnivore

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Aihan Ku
Nov 18, 2009 12PM #

Love the maps! Where's Virginia?

Bill
Nov 18, 2009 12PM #

Dick Durbin is from East Saint Louis, IL. Liar.

Michael Powell
Nov 18, 2009 12PM #

The GA drawings look like they were done by undereducated schoolchildren. Sigh.

Orlando Wedding Photography
Nov 18, 2009 12PM #

I wonder how many senators could name all 50 states let alone draw a map.

Kevin
Nov 18, 2009 12PM #

Look at Georgia's senators, looks like he was drawing Mississippi

Ted
Nov 18, 2009 12PM #

@Bill: Yes, but Durbin moved to Springfield after law school thus making the city his home.

And besides if you were born in East St. Louis, wouldn't you deny it? :)

Tynki
Nov 18, 2009 12PM #

Funny and scary

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