The Evolution of the Northwest Passage as a Cartographic Image: 1753-1853

The Evolution of the Northwest Passage with past Washington State Museum director David Nicandri

July 18, 1:30 – 3:30pm

After centuries of failure to discover the Northwest Passage from North America’s Atlantic side, in 1776, the British Admiralty commissioned Captain James Cook’s third voyage. Among other distinctions, this expedition was the first attempt at finding the passage from the “backside” of the continent, that is, via the Pacific Ocean.

As every student of Cook knows, the third voyage witnessed a host of cartographic and navigational achievements, but Cook “failed” to find that which did not then exist

Columbia Roon of the Legislative Building

416 Sid Snyder Ave SW, Olympia

The Evolution of the Northwest Passage – Washington State Historical Society (washingtonhistory.org)