[Set of Four U.S.G.S. Maps of Chicago]

One of the finest cartographic representations of Chicagoland ever published.

This jaw-dropping collection of four huge maps represents one of the most accurate and systematic efforts to depict Chicago and the surrounding areas during the 20th century. With each sheet measuring over six feet long and issued at a scale of 1: 24,000, the maps offer a level of authoritative detail that was unrivaled at the time of publication. They quite literally set the benchmark for Second City cartography until the Digital Era.

The group, published by the United States Geographical Survey in 1966, includes four sheets. Three cover the city of Chicago (Chicago Loop), the North Shore (Evanston), and the South Side (Blue Island). The fourth focuses on the city of Gary, reflecting the steel-manufacturing region’s industrial importance to Chicago’s economy.

On each large page, important buildings are outlined and labeled amid a comprehensive representation of the local transportation network. Huge railyards dot the landscape while now-destroyed landmarks include Armour Park, Meigs Field, and the Federal Building (demolished the year before publication). Pink shaded areas represent heavily built-up residential/commercial/industrial areas, while green color highlights cemeteries, forest preserves, and parklands.