1903 Map of Boston

About this map

The dense urban core of Boston and its surrounding streetcar suburbs appear at a peak of rail-driven expansion at the dawn of the twentieth century. The geography is defined by the intricate winding of the Charles River, the industrial waterfronts of Old Harbor and Dorchester Bay, and the complex network of the Boston And Maine R.R. and Boston And Albany R.R. lines. Beyond the city center, the map documents the transition to residential pockets like Melrose Highlands and Cliftondale, as well as major institutional landmarks including Tuffs College, the Navy Yard, and the Arnold Arboretum.