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1896 Map of St. Paul

Name: 1896 Topographic Map of St. Paul
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1926
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1926

About this map

The confluence of the Minnesota River and the Mississippi River anchors this late 19th-century survey, centered on the strategic Fort Snelling Military Reservation. At this time, the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are expanding rapidly, their urban grids pushing toward the bluffs. The riverbanks are defined by a complex network of railroads, including the Minnesota Belt Line Ry. and the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul, which weave through the river valleys and serve riverside industrial outposts like South St. Paul.

Beyond the city centers, the landscape of Egan and Inver Grove is dominated by numerous small glacial lakes such as Sunfish Lake and Holland Lake. Local landmarks like Minnehaha Falls and the high vantage point of Dayton Bluff overlook a transition from dense urban development to the rural townships of Lebanon and Rosemount. The map preserves the early layouts of distinct neighborhoods like St. Anthony Park and Merriam Park before they were fully integrated into the modern metropolitan sprawl.