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1897 Map of Harlem

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of Harlem
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

Yonkers and the northern reaches of New York City define this dense urban and industrial landscape at the close of the 19th century. The map highlights the sophisticated transport infrastructure of the era, from the winding path of the New York Central & Hudson River R.R. to the local Electric R.R. networks. Significant civic landmarks like Grants Tomb and Fort Schuyler anchor the waterfronts of the Hudson River and Long Island Sound.

The interplay between massive public works and sprawling green spaces is evident in the inclusion of the Jerome Park Reservoir alongside the vast Pelham Bay Park. Across the river in New Jersey, older settlements like Schraalenburg and Bull's Ferry appear before the full weight of 20th-century suburbanization. This survey also captures the intricate topography of the Palisades and the critical water junctions at Spuyten Duyvil and Hell Gate, where the Ship Canal connects the tidal waters.