1885 Map of Salt Lake

About this map

Salt Lake City and the surrounding Wasatch front are captured in this reconnaissance survey, which reveals the early industrial and settlement patterns of northern Utah. The landscape is defined by the proximity of the Wasatch Mountains to the eastern shores of Utah Lake and the Great Salt Lake. A complex transportation network is already visible, featuring the Denver and Rio Grande Western R. R. and the Central Utah R. R., which linked growing agricultural hubs like Lehi, American Fork, and Spanish Fork. High in the mountains, mining activity is evidenced by Silver City and Alta, while the military presence at Fort Douglass stands guard over the territorial capital. To the east, the Heber Valley and Kamas Prairie support more isolated settlements, connected by the canyon passes that would shape the region's development for decades.