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This pictorial map of Kentucky, published in 1942 to commemorate the state's sesquicentennial, celebrates the rich history and heritage of the state.

The central map illustrates the nine original counties formed by Virginia before Kentucky's admission to the Union on June 1, 1792, alongside their county seats. It also marks the early stations and significant dates in the state's formation. The map is a colorful and detailed representation, highlighting the geographic and historical evolution of Kentucky over 150 years.

Surrounding the map are vignettes depicting key historical buildings and landmarks, each with a brief description that adds depth to the visual narrative. These vignettes include:

• First Permanent Capitol - Built in Frankfort in 1794, it was burned down in 1813.
• Second Permanent Capitol - Also built in Frankfort in 1816, it too was destroyed by fire in 1824.
• Third Permanent Capitol - The current statehouse, completed in 1827, which is home to the Kentucky Historical Society.
• State Offices - Constructed in 1884 on the site of the previous capitol, these offices were abandoned in 1937.
• Kentucky's Capitol - Built in 1906-09 on a new site in South Frankfort after the previous one proved too small.
• The Governor's Mansion - Built in 1912, this is the current residence for Kentucky's governors.
• Morrison Hall - Located in Lexington and built in 1833, it is part of Transylvania University, the oldest college in the West.
• Jefferson County Courthouse - Built in 1837-60, it was originally planned as the Capitol of Kentucky.
• Fort Harrod - Established in Harrodsburg in 1774 by James Harrod, it is the first permanent settlement in the West.
• Home of Dr. Ephraim McDowell - Located in Danville, where the first ovariotomy was performed in 1809.
• Birthplace of Jefferson Davis - Born on June 3, 1808, in Todd County, Davis became the President of the Confederacy.
• Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln - Born on February 12, 1809, on Nolin Creek in what later became LaRue County.
• Ashland - The home of Henry Clay, "The Great Commoner," located in Lexington and originally built in 1806.
• Home of Zachary Taylor - Built by his father, Colonel Richard Taylor, in 1785 in Louisville.
• Federal Hill - Located in Bardstown, this is where Stephen Collins Foster wrote "My Old Kentucky Home" in 1852.
• Oldest Brick House in Kentucky - Built in 1789 in Lincoln County by William Whitley, a famous pioneer.
• Whitehall - The Madison County home of Cassius M. Clay, built in 1799.
• Duncan Tavern - Built in 1788 in Paris, it serves as the headquarters of the Kentucky Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
• Wickland - Located in Nelson County and built by C.W. and J.W. Beckham, this house served multiple governors.
• Bellevue - Built in Newport in 1817 by General James Taylor, it was the first U.S. arsenal in the West.
• Locust Grove - Built in 1790 in Jefferson County by Colonel William Croghan, it was the final home of George Rogers Clark.
• Liberty Hall - Built in 1796 by John Brown, Kentucky's first U.S. Senator, in Frankfort.

Each vignette provides a glimpse into the significant structures that shaped Kentucky's history, emphasizing the state's role in American heritage.