Why We Love Globes 

 What is it about a world globe that is so fascinating?

We think it is because a world globe allows the mind to travel even when the body cannot.  A world globe is, after all, the ultimate model.  It is a model of our entire planet. 

Having a world globe around tends to inspire us in many ways.  We may think about the world explorers who were the first to map out distant unknown lands.  Pioneers like Megellan, Cook and Lewis & Clark embarked on expeditions that, in their day, were no less ambitious than our trip to the moon in 1969.  They were quite literally venturing into the unknown.  They had no idea what beasts and hazards lay ahead, or how long their journeys would be. 

Early cartographers, like Robert de Vaugondy, took the exploits of these early explorers and translated them into the historical maps and globes that so many of us are fascinated with today. 

In their time, the earth seemed endless and infinite.  Prior to the 20th century, humanity did not fathom the possibility of the depletion of natural resources or the extinction of game.  The earth was too extensive, and the unknown, un-explored, wilderness too huge.

Now, with a world globe, we can wrap our minds around the limits of our world, right on our desk.

Still, a globe is a reminder of the vast wilderness, cultures and landscapes that beckon to us.