1906 Map of Madison

About this map

Madison and its surrounding chain of lakes are depicted at a pivotal moment of early 20th-century development, just as the city was solidifying its identity around the University of Wisconsin. The landscape is dominated by Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, and Lake Waubesa, connected by the Yahara River. This era shows a distinctive mix of academic, institutional, and recreational growth, with the State Hospital for the Insane occupying a prominent position on the northern shore while lakeside communities like Mendota Beach and Elmside begin to take shape.