Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Minnesota

Comprehensive state atlas of Minnesota from 1874.

This magnificent atlas of Minnesota was published in Chicago by A.T. Andreas in 1874. Engraving and printing were performed by Charles Shober & Co. and the entire volume was assembled in the city’s Lakeside Building, seen on the final page.

Like many 19th-century county and state atlases, the work was sold on a pre-order subscription basis in order to defray the significant upfront costs of production. The process is described in some detail in the Preface and ‘What it Takes to Make a State Atlas’ dedication sections. Residents and companies could pay an extra fee to include portraits, advertisements, or views of homes and businesses.

Dozens of examples are included throughout the atlas, even illustrations of prized farm animals! Detailed illustrations present a variety of manufacturers, the Minnesota state prison, churches, and private residences. These visual accompaniments offer a fascinating contemporary window into the lives of (mostly wealthy) residents across the state.

Scores of street plans and plat maps cover every village, city, and township. An incredible wealth of information is presented. Names of land owners, local businesses, schools, churches, post offices, transportation routes, geographic features, and much more are carefully labeled on each map. The atlas concludes with biographical sketches of prominent citizens (living and dead), historical descriptions of each county, a patron’s directory of aforementioned subscribers, and statistical data on the United States.