1891 Map of Chicago

About this map

Lake Michigan dominates the eastern edge of this dense urban grid, revealing the city as it stood before the major expansion of its shoreline and harbor infrastructure. The landscape is defined by a massive concentration of rail infrastructure, with lines like the Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul R.R. and the Chicago & Northwestern R.R. converging toward the center from every direction. The waterway network is equally vital, featuring the North Branch Chicago River and the South Branch Chicago River which feed into the industrial corridor of the Illinois and Michigan Canal. This period shows the transition from a river-focused port to a global rail hub, with dozens of distinct lines such as the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fé R.R. and the Chicago and Alton R.R. carving paths through the city's rapidly expanding blocks.