Ohio River Pittsburgh, PA. to Mouth in 280 Charts and Index Sheet [Charts No. 131 and 132 – Cincinnati]

Mapping the course of the Ohio through Cincinnati in the late 1920s.

This pair of detailed charts was originally published as part of one of the most historically significant and massive river-mapping projects of the 20th century: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Atlas of the Ohio River (Pittsburgh, Pa. to Mouth in 280 charts). Originally surveyed between 1911 and 1914 by the Ohio River Board of Engineers on Locks and Dams, these plans were meticulously updated over the years, with these two specific examples re-issued as part of the 1929 revisions.

The images capture a contiguous portion of the Ohio River as it travels through downtown Cincinnati eastwards to Anderson’s Ferry Landing. Water levels are noted throughout the river, along with navigational hazards, islands, and other obstructions – all safely avoided by following the sailing line. Significant attention is given to critical infrastructure like dikes, retaining walls, and sewer lines. Because the maps include large portions of the riverbanks, a wealth of information is also provided on the local transportation network, the footprints of important buildings, and the composition of the physical landscape.