Timelines Provide a Virtual Journey from the Past to Present

The Esri Timeline takes viewers from 1969 to present day and recent events.

Have you ever wondered when Esri released its first product or who some of its first users were? Do you know how and when GIS began or what the oldest existing map looks like? The answers to these questions and many more can be found in two interactive timelines now available on the Web.

The GIS Timeline is a historical look at GIS technology beginning with maps of stone to present-day advancements in the industry. Visitors will see such things as a map that shows the world as Greek geographer and astronomer Ptolemy envisioned it in the second century A.D., Rand McNally and Company's map of the United States showing population density in 1890, and one of the first satellites used in the development of GPS technology in 1984. Visit www.gis.com/timeline to view this fascinating, informative site.

The Esri Timeline takes viewers from 1969, when the company was first founded, to present day and recent events. Through text and photographs, it provides a look at Esri's role in GIS technology advances, some of the company's early customers, Esri product releases, and other significant events in Esri's history such as the "birth" of ArcNews in 1979 and the first User Conference in 1981. Visit www.esri.com/timeline to see the Esri Timeline.

Your comments or questions are welcome at timeline@esri.com.