1906 Map of Madison

About this map

Madison and its surrounding isthmus settlements appear at the opening of the twentieth century, anchored by the expansive waters of Lake Mendota, Lake Monona, and Lake Waubesa. This 1904 survey by Robert Muldrow captures the capital city's early footprint, centered on the University of Wisconsin and radiating out toward nascent lakefront communities like Elmside and Mendota Beach. The landscape is heavily influenced by the rail networks of the Chicago and Northwestern Ry and the Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul RR, which connected the central urban core to outlying agricultural hubs and small stations such as Syene and Darwin. To the north, the State Hospital for the Insane occupies a prominent position on the shore near Farwells Point, while the southern reaches feature the State Fish Hatchery and the Monona Assembly grounds, reflecting the region's early mix of institutional presence and seasonal recreation.