Chicago

Detailed map of Chicago prior to the annexations of 1889.

This lovely hand-colored map of Chicago captures the frenetic growth of the Second City during the last quarter of the 19th century. Rapid recovery from the Great Fire of 1871 resulted in Chicago developing as one of the world’s great metropolises by the end of the century, culminating in the opulence of the White City for the 1893 World’s Fair.

The image is colored by wards (note the lack of gerrymandering) and transportation routes (streets, railroads, streetcar lines) are emphasized. An accompanying street guide is provided at the bottom of the page. Further details include the city’s robust system of connected parks and boulevards (highlighted in green), the Union Stockyards, the lakefront Exhibition Building (future home of the Art Institute), and the Two Mile Tunnel.

Published by William Bradley & Brothers around 1879, based on the presence of the West Side Driving Track (1878) and South Park (renamed Washington Park in 1880).

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