Bird’s Eye View of Boston, United States

Victorian-era view of Boston and the surrounding area.

This engaging bird’s eye view of Boston, Massachusetts was based on an illustration by Thomas Sulman and published as a supplement to the November 23, 1872 edition of the Illustrated London News. Two weeks earlier, the Great Boston Fire of 1872 engulfed much of the city in flames, destroying about 65 acres of property, including much of the financial district and downtown.

The pre-fire image captures much of Boston’s postwar economic vibrancy and urban expansion. A robust network of railroads and waterborne transportation is immediately apparent, facilitating the movement of people and goods to the immediate suburbs and beyond. Bunker Hill, Harvard University, and the State House are illustrated and labeled amid other notable landmarks and geographic features, many of which were destroyed by the blaze.