1885 Map of Salt Lake

About this map

Salt Lake City and the expanding settlements of the Salt Lake Valley appear in this late 19th-century reconnaissance, capturing the region's development before the turn of the century. The map illustrates a landscape defined by the proximity of the Wasatch Mountains to the eastern shores of the Great Salt Lake and the freshwater expanse of Utah Lake. Key early transportation corridors are established, notably the U. P. R. R. and the Denver and Rio Grande Western R. R. connecting mining and agricultural hubs. High-elevation mining camps such as Alta and Park City sit perched in the peaks, while valley towns like Provo, Sandy, and Lehi City thrive along the river drainages. The inclusion of the Strawberry Valley Bird Reserve and Uinta National Forest reflects the early federal management of these critical mountain watersheds.