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This rare and intricately detailed map, created by John Haven in 1846, illustrates the United States and Mexico during the Mexican-American War. The map provides a vivid depiction of territorial boundaries and expansion during a period of significant geopolitical change in North America.

Notably, it showcases a curious misshaped New Mexico Territory to the west of Texas, 4 years before the Compromise of 1850 would settle the boundaries between Texas and New Mexico and several years before New Mexico territory would extend west to the Gila River, following California's admission as a state. The boundaries of "New California" are illustrated with a bold red outline, stretching northeast to encompass the area around Lake Youta (present-day Great Salt Lake in Utah), reflecting the territorial claims of the period.

A striking red line traces the "Route of Oregon Immigrants" along the Platte, Snake, and Columbia Rivers, highlighting the path taken by settlers moving westward toward Oregon, with a second line shown from the area north of Lake Youta or Bonneville to San Francisco. This feature emphasizes the growing importance of westward expansion and the manifest destiny ideology prevalent at the time.  The map also virtually ignores the mountainous regions in Upper California, including The Sierra Nevada Mountains.

The map’s borders are adorned with the official seals of the thirty states in the Union as of 1846, including both established eastern states like Massachusetts and recently admitted western states like Iowa. The seals are interspersed with ornate decorative elements that underscore the grandeur and unity of the expanding nation. 

The map extends beyond the United States and Mexico to include parts of southwestern Canada surrounding Vancouver, along with New Brunswick, Cuba, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. This expansive view underscores the strategic significance of the broader region during the Mexican-American War. 

Flanking the map on both sides are columns of statistical data for each state, detailing key information such as the date of European settlement, the year of admission into the Union, population figures, and the capital city’s name and population. This information is not only valuable for understanding the demographic and political landscape of the time but also serves as a promotional tool for the burgeoning nation, showcasing the growth and development of each state. 

John Haven, renowned for his Mexican-American War maps and promotional materials advocating for a transcontinental railroad, designed this map at a crucial juncture in American history. The inclusion of the “Route of Oregon Emigrants” reflects the increasing migration to the West and the nation's focus on territorial expansion. The border extending through disputed areas of Mexico and the western territories provides a snapshot of the evolving national boundaries before the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848) formally concluded the war.