Expertly researched and designed, National Geographic's Railroad Legacy Map of the United States illustrates the many ways railroads have impacted the nation and shaped people's daily lives. From the creation of time zones still used today to the contributions to the country's economic and industrial development, America's railroad legacy is interwoven with the growth of the United States in the 19th and 20th centuries and of the century to come.

The map portrays the routes of today's seven Class 1 (major) railroads, Amtrak's passenger routes, as well as those of the more than one hundred Class 1 railroads that ran in 1920 when five percent of the nation's work force—more than 2 million people—were employed by these lines. The map also highlights present-day and 1920 rail hubs along with text and illustrations of key events in America's railroad history such as the opening of New York City's Grand Central Terminal in 1913 and the last Class I line to employ steam locomotives in 1960. Notable sites such as tunnels, train spotting locations, and railroad museums are also included on this map.

The map is encapsulated in heavy-duty 1.6 mil laminate which makes the paper much more durable and resistant to the swelling and shrinking caused by changes in humidity. Laminated maps can be framed without the need for glass, so the frames can be much lighter and less expensive.