[Map of Kansas City]

Investing in Kansas City in the late 19th century.

This detailed map of Kansas City, Kansas and its better-known sister city in Missouri was originally copywritten in 1897 by Rand McNally & Company of Chicago. This is a somewhat later reduced example, printed on the verso of a circular advertising for sale $100,000 in bonds that was issued on behalf of the state of Kansas by Spitzer & Co. (a banking firm in Toledo).

Promotional text describes the contemporary economic opportunity in the Kansas Cities, fueled largely by the growth of the railroads, stockyards, and packing houses. “Kansas City, Kan. has elevated, cable, and electric railroads, is lighted by electricity, has good schools, churches, public parks, and one water system supplies the two cities.” The multiple transportation options are noted on the map, which identifies steam railroads, electric railroads, cable car lines, horse-drawn lines, and elevated lines. Important public buildings, parks, and streets are also labeled throughout the image.