1954 Map of Granite City

About this map

The Mississippi River corridor is the industrial and civic heart of this mid-century survey, bifurcating the urban density of St Louis from the Illinois river towns. On the Missouri side, massive grounds of the Bellefontaine Cemetery and Calvary Cemetery sit north of the bustling city center, where landmarks like the St Louis Courthouse and St Louis University anchor the urban grid. The river is crossed by iconic engineering feats including the Eads Bridge and the Merchants Bridge, linking to the rail-heavy landscapes of Venice and Granite City. This period shows a landscape defined by transit and industry, from the complex of the Terminal Railroad Association to the Chain of Rocks Canal, which bypasses the river's natural hazards to facilitate modern barge traffic through the Gabaret Island area.