Historical Nuclear Energy Maps from Ball State University Libraries

Maps in the News: Mapping the History of Nuclear Energy

Researchers can use many cartographic resources to study the history of nuclear energy around the world. The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) on the second floor of Bracken Library has a collection of maps detailing the history of nuclear power plants in the United States and around the world. The Atlas Collection also includes many atlases that feature maps depicting various energy issues, including The State of the World Atlas and the Student Atlas of Politics. The Chernobyl nuclear accident is detailed in the atlas One Planet, Many People from the Atlas Collection (top image).

The GRMC receives maps as a federal depository, and the U.S. government previously produced maps showing the location of commercial nuclear power stations around the United States. The GRMC also includes U.S. Geological Survey topographic quadrangle maps that depict the locations of nuclear power plants. The Forked River, New Jersey map shows the older Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, and the Middletown, Pennsylvania topographic map shows the four reactors at the Three Mile Island power plant (above). The GRMC also includes an aerial photograph of Three Mile Island (above).

CNN created a map so Americans can find the location of nuclear power plants around the country. Simply type in an address or ZIP code to see the plants in relation to any given location: http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/nuclear_power_plants_locations/index.html

Maps from the GRMC circulate for two weeks or longer. Atlases circulate for 28 days or longer. For more information about these resources, please contact the GRMC at 765-285-1097.