Florida

Color lithographed map of Florida from 1892.

This eye-catching map of Florida was published in Chicago by George Cram in 1892. Pastel hues prominently highlight each county across the peninsula, with an inset in the lower left showing the rest of the Panhandle. Railroads are identified with thick black lines – there is a noticeable dearth in the southern extremes of the state, much of which is occupied by the massive Everglades.

A fascinating variety of place names, geographic features, and other locations of interest are labeled throughout the image. The map is an early example to name Miami – Julia Tuttle purchased an enormous citrus plantation in the area the year prior. Also of interest is the proposed canal connecting Lake Okeechobee to the Indian River Lagoon. The diversionary waterway known as the St. Lucie Canal was eventually opened in 1924.