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1913 Map of Galena

Name: 1913 Topographic Map of Galena
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1913
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1913

About this map

Galena serves as the focal point of this pre-war survey, where the lead and zinc mining legacy of northwestern Illinois is clearly etched into the landscape. Numerous operations like the Vinegar Hill Mine, Unity Mine, and the Blackjack Mine are plotted among the bluffs, illustrating the region's industrial intensity. The Mississippi River dominates the western edge, defined by intricate channels and islands such as Hale Island and Scott Island, while active river commerce is evidenced by the Gears Ferry and Bellevue Ferry.

A dense network of early 20th-century transportation routes converges here, including the Illinois Central RR and Chicago Great Western RR. The map also reveals a high concentration of rural social centers, from the St Nicholas Church to uniquely named schoolhouses like Rock College School and Schoenhard School. The topography is particularly detailed around Scales Mound and Horseshoe Mound, providing a clear view of the Driftless Area's distinctive landforms before modern development altered the rural townships of Vinegar Hill and Rawlins.