A geographic information system (GIS) is a computer system for capturing, storing, checking, and displaying data related to positions on Earth’s surface.
Cover image features National Geographic Explorer Alicia Odewale, courtesy of Alicia Odewale.The National Geographic Society is making this content available under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-SA license. The License excludes the National Geographic Logo (meaning the words National Geographic + the Yellow Border Logo) and any images that are included as part of each content piece. For clarity the Logo and images may not be removed, altered, or changed in any way. How can we use maps to reimagine our history? See how Explorer Alicia Odewale uses maps to help students visualize and understand life in Oklahoma’s historic all-Black towns one hundred years ago.