diff --git a/src/globe/cesium/maps.js b/src/globe/cesium/maps.js
index 291d139ab..eaf2cbd00 100644
--- a/src/globe/cesium/maps.js
+++ b/src/globe/cesium/maps.js
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ export function createCesiumMaps(
   // decides what the globe shows. Terrain has its own.
   const generations = { display: 0, terrain: 0 };
   let baseSource = null;
+  // The source objects on screen, as passed (maps.current()).
+  let currentBase = null;
+  let currentTiles = null;
   let creditOwner = null;
   let destroyed = false;
 
@@ -130,6 +133,7 @@ export function createCesiumMaps(
   }
 
   function showBase(source, provider) {
+    currentBase = source;
     mapScene.showBaseImagery(provider);
     showCredit('imagery', imageryCredit(source));
   }
@@ -156,6 +160,7 @@ export function createCesiumMaps(
       if (source == null) {
         mapScene.showTileset(null, tilesets());
         shownTileset = null;
+        currentTiles = null;
         // The globe comes back with the last base imagery and its credit;
         // the photoreal credit goes.
         if (baseSource) {
@@ -195,6 +200,8 @@ export function createCesiumMaps(
       // As MapSourceController activates a 3D stack: no base layer, the
       // source's credit, one tileset shown and the globe hidden.
       mapScene.removeBaseImagery();
+      currentBase = null;
+      currentTiles = source;
       showCredit('photoreal', source.credit);
       shownTileset = tileset;
       mapScene.showTileset(tileset, tilesets());
@@ -205,9 +212,11 @@ export function createCesiumMaps(
       const tileset = source?.tileset;
       if (!tileset || !known.delete(tileset)) return;
       if (shownTileset === tileset) shownTileset = null;
+      if (currentTiles?.tileset === tileset) currentTiles = null;
       if (added.delete(tileset)) viewer.scene.primitives.remove(tileset);
     },
     photorealActive: () => tilesets().some((tileset) => tileset.show === true),
+    current: () => ({ baseImagery: currentBase, photoreal: currentTiles }),
   };
 
   return {
diff --git a/src/globe/cesium/maps.test.mjs b/src/globe/cesium/maps.test.mjs
index fa2955bb5..82d417361 100644
--- a/src/globe/cesium/maps.test.mjs
+++ b/src/globe/cesium/maps.test.mjs
@@ -378,3 +378,21 @@ test('releasePhotorealTiles leaves a tileset the engine did not add in the scene
   maps.releasePhotorealTiles({ tileset: startup });
   assert.equal(viewer.primitiveList.includes(startup), true);
 });
+
+test('current names the sources on screen as passed', async () => {
+  const { maps } = setup();
+  assert.deepEqual(maps.current(), { baseImagery: null, photoreal: null });
+  const esri = esriSource();
+  const tiles = { tileset: tileset(), credit: 'Google' };
+  await maps.setBaseImagery(esri);
+  assert.deepEqual(maps.current(), { baseImagery: esri, photoreal: null });
+  await maps.setPhotorealTiles(tiles);
+  assert.equal(maps.current().photoreal, tiles);
+  assert.equal(maps.current().baseImagery, null);
+  await maps.setPhotorealTiles(null);
+  assert.equal(maps.current().baseImagery, esri);
+  assert.equal(maps.current().photoreal, null);
+  await maps.setPhotorealTiles(tiles);
+  maps.releasePhotorealTiles(tiles);
+  assert.equal(maps.current().photoreal, null, 'a released source is gone');
+});
diff --git a/src/globe/contract.js b/src/globe/contract.js
index efde38fff..237bd2522 100644
--- a/src/globe/contract.js
+++ b/src/globe/contract.js
@@ -161,6 +161,37 @@
  *   a surface-pick check reads), else undefined.
  * @property {any} [object] The engine's own pick result, for engine-specific code.
  *
+ * @typedef {object} GlobeMaps
+ *   Map sources are engine-neutral descriptions, as maps/registry.js sources
+ *   carry them; each engine builds its own providers from them:
+ *   - imagery `{ kind: 'osm'|'esri-imagery'|'ion', style?, accessToken?,
+ *     credit?, descriptor? }`;
+ *   - photoreal tiles `{ kind: 'photoreal', googleApiKey?, cesiumToken?,
+ *     credit?, descriptor? }`;
+ *   - terrain `{ kind: 'ellipsoid'|'keyless'|'world', accessToken?, id? }`.
+ *   Optional prebuilt members (`provider`, `tileset`, terrain `create`, an
+ *   `imagery()` factory) are engine objects their caller built and owns: only
+ *   the engine kind that built them uses them (the Cesium engine for the
+ *   registry's Cesium factories), any other ignores them and builds from the
+ *   description. The engine neither caches nor disposes them.
+ *   Each setter settles once the source is on screen and rejects when it
+ *   cannot be built (the current source then stays). Base imagery and
+ *   photoreal tiles share one switch order: the call made last decides what
+ *   shows, and a superseded call settles without showing anything.
+ * @property {(source: object) => Promise<void>} setBaseImagery
+ * @property {(source: object) => Promise<void>} setTerrain
+ * @property {(source: object | null) => Promise<void>} setPhotorealTiles
+ *   Tiles replace the base imagery and hide the globe; null hides every
+ *   tileset and shows the globe again with the last base imagery and its
+ *   credit (no credit when none was set).
+ * @property {(source: object) => void} releasePhotorealTiles Forgets a
+ *   photoreal source shown before (it no longer counts for photorealActive)
+ *   and takes engine-added tiles out of the scene; its caller disposes them.
+ * @property {() => boolean} photorealActive
+ * @property {() => { baseImagery: object | null, photoreal: object | null }} current
+ *   The source objects on screen, as passed: the base imagery layer on the
+ *   globe and the photoreal tiles shown (null for none).
+ *
  * @typedef {object} GlobeEngine
  * @property {'cesium'|'navara'} kind
  * @property {{ container: object, canvas: object, size: () => { width: number, height: number } }} host
@@ -174,17 +205,7 @@
  *   As in Cesium, a listener with a modifier fires only while that key is
  *   held and one without fires only while no modifier is held.
  * @property {{ addStatic: (html: string, options?: { onScreen?: boolean }) => () => void }} credits
- * @property {{ setBaseImagery: (source: object) => Promise<void>, setTerrain: (source: object) => Promise<void>, setPhotorealTiles: (source: object | null) => Promise<void>, releasePhotorealTiles: (source: object) => void, photorealActive: () => boolean }} maps
- *   Sources are maps/registry.js descriptions; the engine builds its own
- *   providers. Each setter settles once the source is on screen and rejects
- *   when it cannot be built (the current source then stays). A source may
- *   carry a ready engine `provider` its caller built and owns (the engine
- *   neither caches nor disposes it). Base imagery and photoreal tiles share
- *   one switch order: the one asked for last wins, a superseded call settles
- *   without showing anything. setPhotorealTiles(null) shows the globe again
- *   with the last base imagery and its credit (no credit when none was set).
- *   releasePhotorealTiles forgets a tileset source shown before and takes it
- *   out of the scene when the engine put it there; its caller disposes it.
+ * @property {GlobeMaps} maps
  * @property {() => void} destroy
  */
 
@@ -364,6 +385,7 @@ const SHAPE = {
     setPhotorealTiles: isFunction,
     releasePhotorealTiles: isFunction,
     photorealActive: isFunction,
+    current: isFunction,
   },
 };
 
diff --git a/src/globe/contract.test.mjs b/src/globe/contract.test.mjs
index f128974e2..364ab00a1 100644
--- a/src/globe/contract.test.mjs
+++ b/src/globe/contract.test.mjs
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@ test('the contract carries what the shell infrastructure needs', () => {
     'camera.livePosition',
     'camera.height',
     'maps.releasePhotorealTiles',
+    'maps.current',
   ])
     assert.ok(GLOBE_ENGINE_MEMBERS.includes(member), member);
   const engine = createFakeEngine();
@@ -209,8 +210,13 @@ test('the fake engine passes the engine contract suite', async (t) => {
   const engine = createFakeEngine();
   const checks = createContractSuite(engine, {
     waitFrames: async (count) => engine.fake.frames(count),
+    mapSources: {
+      imagery: [{ kind: 'osm' }, { kind: 'esri-imagery' }],
+      photoreal: { kind: 'photoreal' },
+    },
   });
   assert.ok(checks.length >= 15);
+  assert.ok(checks.some(({ name }) => name.startsWith('maps:')));
   assert.equal(new Set(checks.map((check) => check.name)).size, checks.length);
   for (const check of checks) await t.test(check.name, () => check.run());
 });
diff --git a/src/globe/testing/contractSuite.mjs b/src/globe/testing/contractSuite.mjs
index 309c8778b..d4cf4b74d 100644
--- a/src/globe/testing/contractSuite.mjs
+++ b/src/globe/testing/contractSuite.mjs
@@ -69,12 +69,15 @@ const along = (origin, direction, distance) =>
 
 /**
  * @param {import('../contract.js').GlobeEngine} engine
- * @param {{ waitFrames: (count: number) => Promise<void>, maxWaitFrames?: number }} options
+ * @param {{ waitFrames: (count: number) => Promise<void>, maxWaitFrames?: number,
+ *   mapSources?: { imagery: object[], photoreal: object } }} options
+ *   `mapSources` (two imagery sources and a photoreal one the engine can
+ *   show) adds the maps checks; they leave photoreal tiles hidden.
  * @returns {{ name: string, run: () => Promise<void> }[]}
  */
 export function createContractSuite(
   engine,
-  { waitFrames, maxWaitFrames = 240 },
+  { waitFrames, maxWaitFrames = 240, mapSources = null },
 ) {
   if (typeof waitFrames !== 'function')
     throw new TypeError('createContractSuite needs a waitFrames(count) helper');
@@ -1378,9 +1381,82 @@ export function createContractSuite(
       },
     ],
   ];
+  if (mapSources?.photoreal && mapSources.imagery?.length >= 2)
+    checks.push(...mapChecks(engine.maps, mapSources));
   return checks.map(([name, run]) => ({ name, run }));
 }
 
+// The maps switch order, observed through maps.current().
+function mapChecks(maps, { imagery: [first, second], photoreal }) {
+  const shows = (baseImagery, tiles, label) => {
+    const current = maps.current();
+    ensure(
+      current.baseImagery === baseImagery,
+      `${label}: base imagery is not the expected source`,
+    );
+    ensure(
+      current.photoreal === tiles,
+      `${label}: photoreal tiles are not the expected source`,
+    );
+    ensure(
+      maps.photorealActive() === (tiles !== null),
+      `${label}: photorealActive is ${maps.photorealActive()}`,
+    );
+  };
+  return [
+    [
+      'maps: setPhotorealTiles(null) brings back the last base imagery',
+      async () => {
+        await maps.setBaseImagery(first);
+        shows(first, null, 'after setBaseImagery');
+        await maps.setPhotorealTiles(photoreal);
+        shows(null, photoreal, 'tiles replace the base imagery');
+        await maps.setPhotorealTiles(null);
+        shows(first, null, 'null');
+      },
+    ],
+    [
+      'maps: the last imagery or photoreal call decides what shows',
+      async () => {
+        await maps.setBaseImagery(first);
+        await Promise.all([
+          maps.setBaseImagery(second),
+          maps.setPhotorealTiles(photoreal),
+        ]);
+        shows(null, photoreal, 'tiles last');
+        await maps.setPhotorealTiles(null);
+        const restored = maps.current().baseImagery;
+        // The second source was superseded before or after it showed.
+        ensure(
+          restored === first || restored === second,
+          'null: the last base imagery shown is not back',
+        );
+        await Promise.all([
+          maps.setPhotorealTiles(photoreal),
+          maps.setBaseImagery(second),
+        ]);
+        ensure(
+          maps.current().baseImagery === second,
+          'imagery last: the second source is not on the globe',
+        );
+        await maps.setPhotorealTiles(null);
+        shows(second, null, 'null after imagery');
+      },
+    ],
+    [
+      'maps.releasePhotorealTiles: a released source no longer shows or counts',
+      async () => {
+        await maps.setPhotorealTiles(photoreal);
+        await maps.setPhotorealTiles(null);
+        maps.releasePhotorealTiles(photoreal);
+        maps.releasePhotorealTiles(photoreal);
+        ensure(!maps.photorealActive(), 'photorealActive after release');
+        ensure(maps.current().photoreal === null, 'current after release');
+      },
+    ],
+  ];
+}
+
 /** Runs every check in order; never throws for a failing check. */
 export async function runContractSuite(engine, options) {
   const results = [];
diff --git a/src/globe/testing/fakeEngine.js b/src/globe/testing/fakeEngine.js
index b20fa9da5..54b66bb53 100644
--- a/src/globe/testing/fakeEngine.js
+++ b/src/globe/testing/fakeEngine.js
@@ -241,6 +241,7 @@ export function createFakeEngine(options = {}) {
   };
   const inputs = new Map(INPUT_TYPES.map((type) => [type, new Set()]));
   const livePosition = cartesian3.create();
+  let lastBaseImagery = null;
   const scripts = new Map();
   let transform = [...matrix4.IDENTITY];
   let percentageChanged = 0.5;
@@ -819,10 +820,13 @@ export function createFakeEngine(options = {}) {
         };
       },
     },
+    // The contract's switch order: a call shows its source when made (the
+    // fake builds nothing), so the call made last decides what shows.
     maps: {
       async setBaseImagery(source) {
         record('maps.setBaseImagery', [source]);
         fake.maps.imagery = source;
+        lastBaseImagery = source;
       },
       async setTerrain(source) {
         record('maps.setTerrain', [source]);
@@ -830,12 +834,23 @@ export function createFakeEngine(options = {}) {
       },
       async setPhotorealTiles(source) {
         record('maps.setPhotorealTiles', [source]);
-        fake.maps.photoreal = source ?? null;
+        if (source == null) {
+          fake.maps.photoreal = null;
+          fake.maps.imagery = lastBaseImagery;
+          return;
+        }
+        fake.maps.photoreal = source;
+        fake.maps.imagery = null;
       },
       releasePhotorealTiles(source) {
         record('maps.releasePhotorealTiles', [source]);
+        if (fake.maps.photoreal === source) fake.maps.photoreal = null;
       },
       photorealActive: () => fake.maps.photoreal != null,
+      current: () => ({
+        baseImagery: fake.maps.imagery ?? null,
+        photoreal: fake.maps.photoreal,
+      }),
     },
     destroy() {
       record('destroy', []);