Arizona Territory 1881

Old Arizona.

This ‘Wild West’ map shows the political organization and geographic information of the Arizona Territory as of 1881. Settlements, transportation routes, and county outlines are prominently noted throughout the image, though the emphasis is on the less tangible elements that comprise the region’s cultural identity. Ghost towns, lost treasure, post offices, and ranches are all noted, while the overall aesthetic of the page harkens to the era of cowboys and prospectors.

Originally designed by Gerald Shipley in 1969 and published by Guidco of Tucson as an accompaniment to their Arizona Ghost Town Guide. This example was issued in 1981 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Phelps Dodge Corporation. its accompanied by a small booklet that offers sixteen ‘stories of Arizona’s Mines and Early Mineral Discoveries’ from conquistadores through the cowboys.