Being a Map of Saint Louis Known as the Mound City Pride of the Mississippi Valley and Quite a Pleasant Place

“A mélange of landmarks, old and new, of a historic city.”

This bold pictorial map of “Mound City” (St. Louis, Missouri) is oriented with west at the top and features numerous vignettes highlighting noteworthy sites, local landmarks, and historical events. The image is representative of the city’s self-identity in the postwar years and presents an interesting mix of civic pride, local commentary, and decorative elements that combine historic and contemporary timeframes. Somewhat juvenile (but admittedly, occasionally clever) humor is scattered throughout – the American Can Co., reformatory school, and growing suburbanization are all shown with tongue-in-cheek illustrations. The era’s reflection on race is also evident – slaves can be seen being led to market along the Mississippi, caricatured blacks are studying “basic” math at Vashon High, and Native Americans are stereotypically depicted smoking a peace pipe (though they are recognized as the ‘Original Inhabitants’).

This is the first edition, designed by Chuck Flachmann in 1950 and self-published as a souvenir mailer. The map was issued in several different styles, including a version sponsored by Anheuser-Busch. Later editions remove the unsavory references to African Americans, but the Native American vignettes persist.