PHILADELPHIA  -- The University of Pennsylvania's Arthur Ross Gallery presents "Mapping the Pacific Coast: Coronado to Lewis and Clark, the Quivira Collection" from Sep. 24 through Jan. 8.  

With 33 maps dated as early as 1544, "Mapping the Pacific Coast" is one of the most comprehensive collections of pre-Lewis and Clark maps of the American West Coast.  

Consisting of rare maps, illustrations and books collected during many years by former Philadelphian and SmithKline Beecham CEO Henry Wendt, the exhibition was organized in conjunction with the Sonoma County Museum.

The exhibition traces many of the greatest adventures in history, including dangerous ocean voyages by Spanish, French, English and Russian explorers; the race to discover the Northwest Passage; sightings of ea monsters;and the very first contacts between Native Americans and Europeans.  

Many of the documents included in the exhibition tell dramatic stories in their own right, with references to explorers such as Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, Francis Drake and James Cook, all of whom left their mark on the Pacific Coast.   These historic stories are told through original maps and illustrations, the earliest being woodcuts and the majority being copperplate engravings.  

"Mapping the Pacific Coast: Coronado to Lewis and Clark, the Quivira Collection" is named for and sponsored by Quivira Estate Vineyards.  Owned by Wendt and his wife, Holly, the California vineyard derives its name from a mythical kingdom that frequently shows up on 16th- and 17th- century maps of the Pacific region.

Located at 220 S. 34th St., the Arthur Ross Gallery is open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m.  Exhibitions are free and open to the public.  Additional information about the exhibition is available at 215-898-2083 or www.upenn.edu/ARG.