City of Portland, Maine [and] Montreal

Beautiful double-sided map of Portland and Montreal.

This neat street map of Portland, Maine was published in Chicago by George Cram in 1898. Though the city’s population was only about 35,000 at the time, it supported a diverse economy of manufacturing, shipping, and construction fueled by ample maritime and railroad access (reflected in the image).

City limits are highlighted in yellow, while parks, cemeteries, and other outdoor areas are shaded in green. Apart from street names, toponyms identify a fascinating variety of locations; including wharves, bridges, geographic features, neighborhoods, and important buildings.

Of the last category, notable examples include Maine General Hospital, the Alms House, baseball grounds, and the lighthouse in Port Elizabeth – one of the oldest still functioning in the United States. A similarly designed map of Montreal can be found on the verso.