1891 Map No. 10. Showing the Location of Street Railways. City of Washington
Statistical Map No. 10. Showing the Location of Street Railways. City of Washington
By: Capt. W.T. Rossell Photo-Lithograph by: Norris Peters Co.
Date: 1891 (published) Washington D.C.
Dimensions: 28 x 28 inches (71 x 71 cm)
This is an early public transportation map of Washington D.C. showing the extent of street railways in use at end of the 19th century. Laid upon a magnificent city plan of the United States capitol, are the routes of ten different street railway companies delineated throughout the Washington D.C.
While street cars were nothing new, many of them were horse drawn and in the decades leading up to the publication of this map new rail operated street cars began to take their place. The Washington and Georgetown Company (identified on the map in red) was the first on the scene, officially incorporated May 17, 1862. By the end of the 1880s, many cities, including Washington, turned to electric-powered streetcars. The Eckington and Soldiers' Home Comapny (identified on this map in black) was the first to offer this service in October of 1888. Many others would soon follow.
This map was one of twelve statistical maps produced in an effort to present large-scale improvements in the infrastructure of the city since the Greene maps of 1880. Each map was drawn on an identical scale and included the prefix “Statistical Map No" before each unique title. Above the title is a full list of avenues names along with their width in feet.
This map and its counterparts offer a unique glimpse into the state of development in the Capitol of the United States just before the turn of the 20th Century.
Condition: This map is in B+ condition, originally issued folding with some separations along the fold lines. The map has been professionally linen-backed with any fold separations filled in by an artist's hand.
Inventory #11849
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