Most people only look at maps when they have someplace to go.Before there was Mapquest.com or Mapsco, atlas-style geographicalmaps were close to works of art.

Hand-painted maps from the 19th and 20th century will be ondisplay in the Hawn Gallery inside the Hamon Arts Library.

The exhibit “Geologists’ Maps of a Changing World:Works from the Collection of Dr. C. Reid Ferring,” which runsOct. 23 to Dec. 30, showcases the craftsmanship that was put intothese early works.

C. Reid Ferring, a geography professor at the University ofNorth Texas, studied and collected works that tell the story ofgeological mapping.

Ferring, who received his Ph.D. at SMU, took a break from hiswork at UNT to share his personal insights and stories behind hiscollection.

Mint condition maps from the 19th century include works fromHinton, Hitchcock, Johnston Lydell and Brue. The exhibit alsofeatures early 20th century maps from Wheeler, Gilbert, Howell andSellards.

The exhibit is sponsored by the Edwin J. Foscue Map Library.

The gallery talk and exhibition opening is at 2 p.m. onThursday.