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Featured Item: Railway terminal map of Chicago

By Cecilia Smith

Railway terminal map of Chicago



What is the item?

A map of railways and depots in Chicago and surrounding areas from 1897 by Rand McNally and Company.

What BTAA Library submitted the item?

University of Michigan

Interesting tidbits:

  • Railways were an influential component to the incredible population growth in Chicago during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • The map uses color to denote North, West, and South Chicago, whose boundaries are largely formed by branches of the Chicago River.
  • The Chicago Park and Boulevard System is also highlighted in green. The system is a series of parks connected by wide streets with central medians containing planted dividers. 26 miles of the system are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.