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1896 Map of St. Paul

Name: 1896 Topographic Map of St. Paul
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1913
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1913

About this map

The confluence of the Mississippi River and Minnesota River anchors this detailed late nineteenth-century landscape, dominated by the strategic military presence at Fort Snelling. The dense grid of St. Paul spreads across the northeast, connected to outlying streetcar suburbs and developments like Merriam Park and St. Anthony Park. The industrial and transit character of the era is evident in the intricate web of rail lines, including the Northern Pacific and the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul, which follow the river valleys and plateaus.

To the south, the terrain transitions into a more rural, glaciated geography dotted with numerous small lakes such as Blackhawk Lake and Sunfish Lake. The map captures several early riverfront settlements like Mendota, Newport, and South St. Paul, alongside landmarks like Pilot Knob and Dayton Bluff. This survey illustrates the early urban expansion of the Twin Cities before modern highway systems, highlighting the proximity of landmarks like Minnehaha Falls to the growing metropolitan centers.