The Washington Map Society is one of the premier map societies in the world. It began in 1979 as a small, informal group interested in cartography, cartographic history, and collecting maps. It has expanded its interests to include modern cartographic concerns. There are eight or nine speakers a year, and a field trip or two. Membership is now well over 200, but it has retained the comfortable feel of that original group.
Membership is open to anyone interested in maps, and members come from all walks of life.