1923 Map of Joliet

About this map

Joliet and its industrial surroundings are defined by a complex network of waterways and railroads during this era of heavy manufacturing and transit. The Des Plaines River corridor serves as a massive artery for trade, paralleled by the historic Illinois and Michigan Canal and the modern Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. This industrial density contrasts with the rural character of northern Wheatland and Du Page, where family-named schools like Royce School and Lantz School dot the landscape. A unique institutional landmark, the State Penitentiary Farm, sits just north of the city limits near the Lockport boundary. The map also captures the early automotive era through the Lincoln Highway, which passes through Plainfield and Caton Farm, intersecting with numerous rail lines such as the Elgin Joliet and Eastern Ry.