1950 Map of Alton

About this map

The Mississippi River defines the southern edge of this mid-century landscape, where industrial and educational institutions anchor the river-bluff city. Notable for its dense concentration of private and state facilities, the area includes the Western Military Academy, Shurtleff College, and the sprawling State Hospital grounds. Along the riverfront, infrastructure dominates the shoreline with Lock and Dam No 26 and the Lewis and Clark Toll Bridge providing critical crossings for regional commerce. North of the urban center, the terrain transitions into a patchwork of rural schools and seminaries, such as Monticello Seminary and South Branch Sch. The map reveals a complex rail network serving the river valley, including the Gulf Mobile and Ohio and Illinois Terminal lines, which supported the industry and limestone quarrying common to the bluffs. Local history is further preserved through numerous burial grounds like Confederate Cem and Valhalla Cem.