Terms of Service

Last updated October 15, 2026

The short version: this is a free map of American history and culture. Use it kindly, don't abuse the servers, check the ground truth before you drive four hours, and respect the places the pins point at, some of them are solemn and some of them are somebody's street.

The agreement

These terms are an agreement between you and Canary Street LLC, a Florida limited liability company, which owns and operates Raw States ("the site", "we", "us"). Our postal address and business hours are on the contact page. By using the site, and especially by creating an account, you accept them. If you do not accept them, don't use the site. No hard feelings.

The service

The site is an interactive map of historical events, cultural sites, and upcoming events across the United States, with optional free accounts for saving places. The US map is free. The world map, with places outside the United States, is a paid subscription described below. The site is provided as-is, and it may change, gain features, lose features, or go offline for maintenance without notice.

Accuracy, and what a pin is

Every entry is researched and placed with care, and precision is the whole point of the site. But history is contested, sources disagree, and coordinates are occasionally wrong despite best efforts. The map is a starting point, not an authority. Verify anything that matters before you rely on it: especially before travelling, and especially opening hours, access, and whether a site still exists.

A pin is not permission. Some pins mark places on or beside private property, working land, or active infrastructure. A pin means "this happened here", never "you may go here". Obey postings, fences, and the people who live and work there. Some pins mark places where people died; treat them the way you'd want your own history treated.

Accounts

An account is an email address and, if you choose one, a password. The email is the account name and the way the site reaches you. See the privacy policy for exactly what is stored and what is sent.
You are responsible for the password and for what happens under your account. Pick a real password.
One person per account. Don't share credentials.
You can export everything or delete the account at any time from the account menu; deletion is immediate and final.
You must be at least 18 to make an account.

Acceptable use

Don't do these things:

Break, probe, or overload the site or its API: no automated scraping of the API, credential testing, or rate-limit evasion.
Use the site to plan or coordinate harassment, trespass, vandalism, or theft, including at any site the map documents.
Misrepresent the site's content as your own, or republish it wholesale.
Create accounts by machine.

Accounts used this way may be removed without warning. That is the only reason an account is ever removed.

Comments

Comments were switched off on October 15, 2026. Nothing can be posted, and comments posted before then are no longer shown. The rules below applied to every comment while the feature was on, and apply again if it returns.

These are the community rules you agree to before your first comment.

There is no tolerance for objectionable content or abusive users. No attacks on people, no harassment, no threats, no hate, no sexual content, no spam or advertising, and nothing illegal.
No private people's details. Don't post anyone's address, phone number, workplace or other personal information, and don't accuse a private person of a crime. Pins are about places and the public record, not about settling scores.
You are responsible for what you post. By posting you give Raw States permission to show your comment on the site, in any form of it (the website and its apps), for as long as it stays up.
Comments are checked. An automated filter checks each one; some are held for a person to review before anyone else sees them, and anything may be removed at any time. Anyone can report a comment from its menu, and reports are reviewed, normally within a day.
Our right to remove content. Raw States may, in its sole and absolute discretion, at any time and for any reason or for no reason, with or without notice and without liability to you or anyone else, refuse to publish, edit, hold, hide, move, or remove any comment or other content you submit, in whole or in part, and may suspend, restrict, or terminate your ability to comment. Nothing in these rules obliges Raw States to publish, keep, or explain the removal of any content, and the fact that a comment does or does not appear is not an endorsement or a finding that it breaks or follows these rules. You agree that you have no right to have any content kept on the site and no claim against Raw States arising from its removal.
Breaking the rules costs you commenting. A comment can be removed, and an account can be warned, held for review, suspended from commenting, or banned from commenting.
You can block any commenter from a comment's menu. You won't see their comments; they aren't told.
Questions, appeals, or something that needs a person: privacy@rawstates.com.

Saved places and public counts

Saving a place adds it to your private list and increments a public counter on that place's card. The counter is anonymous: a number, nothing more. Your list is visible only to you.

Promoted placements

If an event or place has paid for placement, it is visibly labelled as promoted where it appears. Promotion never changes a pin's location or the facts stated about it.

Adopted pins

Anyone can adopt a pin: a monthly payment puts a name of their choosing on that pin's card, and at the higher price links that name to a website of their choosing. The line is labelled "Adopted by" wherever it appears, and a paid link is marked as sponsored. Adoption buys the line and nothing else. It never changes the pin's location, its words, or its place on the map, and it is not an endorsement by the site of the adopter or by the adopter of the pin. One adopter per pin. The site approves every name and link before it appears and may refuse or end any adoption, with the current period refunded when it does. An adoption ends when its payment stops, and the pin is then open to adoption again.

The world map subscription

What you get. A subscription opens every place on the world map, the places outside the United States, for as long as it runs. It adds to the free US map; it does not change it. A few world places are free to everyone without a subscription.
Who can buy. You must be 18 or older to subscribe. Checkout is handled by Stripe; the site never sees or stores your card details.
Price. You are charged the price shown at checkout, in US dollars, plus any tax that applies where you live. The site may test different prices with different readers; the price you were shown is the price you pay, and it does not change while your subscription runs.
Free trial. A subscription may start with a free trial, shown with its length at checkout, once per person. Your card is taken when the trial starts but is not charged during it. When the trial ends, the subscription becomes a paid one and your card is charged the plan's price that day, unless you cancel before the trial ends. You will be reminded by email about two days before the first charge. If you cancel during the trial, you are not charged, and the world map stays open until the trial ends.
Automatic renewal. A subscription renews automatically at the end of each period, every year for the yearly plan and every month for the monthly plan, and your card is charged the same price each time until you cancel. Before a yearly plan renews, you will be reminded by email.
Cancelling. You can cancel at any time from "Manage world subscription" in the account menu, or by emailing the address below. Cancelling stops the next renewal; the world map stays open until the end of the period you have already paid for.
Refunds. Payments are not refunded for a period already started, except where the law requires it. If the site ends the world map, or ends your access for any reason other than a breach of these terms, the unused part of your current period is refunded.
Deleting your account cancels the subscription first, so nothing is charged afterwards.
Changes. If the price of your plan ever changes, you will be told by email at least 30 days before the renewal it applies to, and you can cancel before then.

Intellectual property

The site's text is original writing and belongs to the site. Map rendering uses OpenFreeMap and OpenStreetMap data under their own licences; links to Wikipedia lead to content under Wikipedia's licences. You may quote and share the site's content with attribution (a link is attribution). You may not bulk-copy the database and present it as yours.

Third-party links

Pins link out: to Wikipedia, to event pages, to venues. Those sites are their own; the map is not responsible for what they say, sell, or do.

Consent to data collection

These Terms of Service incorporate our Privacy Policy, which discloses how we, our vendors and our service providers collect and use data when you use the Site and/or mobile applications. By using this Site, you hereby consent to the collection and use of data by us, our vendors and our service providers as described in the Privacy Policy (including any links to other policies therein). You can opt out of the use of your data for cross-contextual advertising at any time by following the opt-out instructions in the Privacy Policy or clicking the provided links on the Site.

No warranty

The site is provided "as is" and "as available", without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including accuracy, availability, and fitness for a particular purpose. Nothing here is a warranty about what you will find at a physical location the map describes.

Limitations on liability

YOU UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT, TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, WE, OR OUR VENDORS OR SERVICE PROVIDERS (COLLECTIVELY, “WE” OR “US”), SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF OR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE THE WEBSITE. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF ANY OF US EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAID OR PAYABLE TO RAPTIVE BY YOU FOR THE WEBSITE DURING THE SIX-MONTH PERIOD PRIOR TO THE ACT, OMISSION, OR OCCURRENCE GIVING RISE TO SUCH LIABILITY; OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100). THE LIMITATIONS OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL APPLY TO ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, STATUTE, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, AND WHETHER OR NOT THE PARTIES HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY SUCH DAMAGE, AND EVEN IF A REMEDY SET FORTH HEREIN IS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.

Binding arbitration (“Arbitration Agreement”)

Applicability of Arbitration Agreement. You agree that any dispute or claim against us, or our vendors or service providers (collectively, “We” or “Us”), related in any way to your access or use of this website, to these Terms, or to any aspect of your relationship with Us, will be resolved by binding arbitration, rather than in court, except that (1) you may assert claims in small claims court if your claims qualify, so long as the matter remains in such court and advances only on an individual (non-class, non-representative) basis; and (2) you or We may seek equitable relief in court for infringement or other misuse of intellectual property rights (such as trademarks, trade dress, domain names, trade secrets, copyrights, and patents). You agree that you must commence any arbitration or other claim within one (1) year after the dispute arises; otherwise, the claim is permanently barred, which means that you will no longer have the right to assert a claim regarding the dispute. This Arbitration Agreement will apply, without limitation, to all claims that arose or were asserted before the effective date of these Terms or any prior version of this Arbitration Agreement.
You agree in advance that you will not participate in or seek to recover monetary or other relief in any lawsuit filed against Us, alleging class, collective, and/or representative claims on your behalf. Instead, by agreeing to arbitration, you may bring your claims against any of Us in an individual arbitration proceeding (except for any Batch Arbitration, as described below). If successful on such claims, you could be awarded money or other relief by an arbitrator. You acknowledge that you have been advised that you may consult with an attorney in deciding whether to accept these Terms, including this Arbitration Agreement.

The Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this Arbitration Agreement.
Process. To begin a claim, you must first send a letter describing your claim in detail, including your name and contact information, your legal claim, the specific facts giving rise to your claim (including the date(s) and amount(s) of any relevant transaction or interaction with us), and the requested relief, to 7901 4th St N, STE 300, St Petersburg, Florida 33702. You and We agree to attempt in good faith to negotiate an informal resolution of your claim. If a resolution is not reached within thirty (30) days, you may commence an arbitration action as set forth herein. The arbitration will be conducted by JAMS, an established alternative dispute resolution provider. Disputes involving claims and counterclaims under $250,000, not inclusive of attorneys' fees and interest, will be subject to JAMS's most current version of the Streamlined Arbitration Rules and procedures available at http://www.jamsadr.com/rules-streamlined-arbitration/; all other claims will be subject to JAMS's most current version of the Comprehensive Arbitration Rules and Procedures, available at http://www.jamsadr.com/rules-comprehensive-arbitration/. JAMS's rules are also available at www.jamsadr.com or by calling JAMS at 800-352-5267. If JAMS is not available to arbitrate, the parties will select an alternative arbitral forum. You may choose to have the arbitration conducted remotely, based on written submissions, or in person at a mutually agreed location. We will be entitled to make an offer of judgment in the arbitration proceeding. If the offer of judgment is not accepted, and the award is not more favorable than the unaccepted offer, you will be solely responsible for all costs incurred by Us after the offer of judgment is made to the extent permitted by applicable law. Any judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Fees. If the arbitrator finds that you cannot afford to pay JAMS's filing, administrative, hearing, and/or other fees, and you cannot obtain a waiver from JAMS, we will pay them for you. If the arbitrator determines the claims are frivolous, you agree to pay Us our attorneys’ fees and costs in the arbitration, to the extent permitted by applicable law.
Authority of Arbitrator. The arbitrator, and not any federal, state, or local court or agency, will have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute related to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, or formation of this Arbitration Agreement, including, but not limited to, any claim that all or any part of this Arbitration Agreement is void or voidable. The arbitration will decide the rights and liabilities, if any, of you and Us. The arbitration proceeding will not be consolidated with any other matters or joined with any other cases or parties. The arbitrator will have the authority to grant motions dispositive of all or part of any claim. The arbitrator will have the authority to award monetary damages and to grant any non-monetary remedy or relief available to an individual under applicable law, the arbitral forum's rules, and these Terms (including the Arbitration Agreement). The arbitrator will issue a written award and statement of decision describing the essential findings and conclusions on which the award is based, including the calculation of any damages awarded. The arbitrator has the same authority to award relief on an individual basis that a judge in a court of law would have. The award of the arbitrator is final and binding upon you and Us.
Waiver of Jury Trial. You and We hereby waive any constitutional and statutory rights to sue in court and have a trial in front of a judge or a jury. You and We are instead electing that all claims and disputes will be resolved by arbitration under this Arbitration Agreement, except as specified in Section (a) above. An arbitrator can award on an individual basis the same damages and relief as a court and must follow this Agreement as a court would. However, there is no judge or jury in arbitration, and court review of an arbitration award is subject to very limited review.
Waiver of Class or Consolidated Actions. Except with respect to Batch Arbitration (as defined below), all claims and disputes within the scope of this Arbitration Agreement must be arbitrated on an individual basis and not on a class basis, only individual relief is available, and claims of more than one customer or user cannot be arbitrated or consolidated with those of any other customer or user. In the event that this subparagraph is deemed invalid or unenforceable neither you nor We are entitled to arbitration and instead claims and disputes will be resolved in a court as set forth in these Terms.
Batch Arbitration. You and We agree that, in the event that there are fifty (50) or more individual requests for arbitration of a similar nature filed against Us within an approximately (30) thirty-day period (or otherwise in close proximity) regardless of the state(s) in which such claims are filed, JAMS will administer all such similarly situated arbitration demands on a collective basis as a single, consolidated arbitration (subject to a single set of fees, proceeding schedule, and, if required, hearing) before a single arbitrator in accordance with the requirements outlined elsewhere in this section, provided that – in the event that the arbitrator deems it impracticable or inequitable to administer all such claims collectively in a single arbitration – (s)he may group demands for arbitration into groups of not fewer than twenty (20) matters, plus a remainder group as needed (or as otherwise deemed by the arbitrator to be practicable, equitable, and in best keeping with the spirit of this provision) and arbitrate each group of matters as a single, consolidated arbitration (either structure a “Batch Arbitration”). You and We agree (1) to work with JAMS in good faith to facilitate the resolution of disputes on a Batch Arbitration basis and (2) that requests for arbitration are of a “similar nature” if they arise out of the same event, agreement, or factual scenario and raise the same or similar legal issues and seek the same or similar relief. Disagreements over the applicability of this Batch Arbitration process will be settled in a single, consolidated arbitration proceeding that includes all affected parties and is resolved by a single arbitrator subject to the requirements of this section. This Batch Arbitration provision shall in no way be interpreted as authorizing a class or collective arbitration or action of any kind, or any suit or arbitration involving joint or consolidated claims, under any circumstances other than those expressly set forth in this section.
Severability. If any part or parts of this Arbitration Agreement are found under the law to be invalid or unenforceable, then such specific part or parts will be of no force and effect and will be severed, and the remainder of the Arbitration Agreement will continue in full force and effect.
Survival. This Arbitration Agreement will survive the termination of your relationship with Us.
Modification. Notwithstanding any provision in these Terms to the contrary, We agree that if We make any future material change to this Arbitration Agreement, it will not apply to any individual claim(s) for which that you had already provided notice to Us.

Changes to these terms

If these terms change materially, the date at the top changes and the change is described here rather than quietly applied. Continuing to use the site after a change means accepting the changed terms.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the United States and the State of Florida, where Canary Street LLC is organised, without regard to conflict-of-law rules.

Contact

Questions about these terms, a correction, or a concern about a specific pin: privacy@rawstates.com. By post: Canary Street LLC, 7901 4th St N, STE 300, St Petersburg, Florida 33702. See the contact page for business hours.

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