1837 No. 3 Map of the Harbor of St. Louis Mississippi River
By: Lt. Robert E. Lee
Date: 1837 (dated)
Dimensions: 17 x 23.75 inches (43.2 x 60.3 cm)
This is an authentic antique map St. Louis and the Mississippi River by Lt. Robert E. Lee. The map was created in the year 1812 by the Corps of Engineers.
This long map of St. Louis and the Mississippi focuses on the river from Cahoe Island in the south to Cascarot Island in the north. Numerous measurements of distance and water depth are given from shore to shore. Connecting these cross section measurements are compass heading to get from point to point. Along the banks of the river some physical geography is noted as well as the location of individual buildings stores and farms some with family names.
The map centers of the city of St. Louis and Bloody Island. During the 1830s the emergence of Bloody Island was directing the main flow of water to the Illinois side causing an increasing buildup of silt on the St. Louis side more importantly St. Louis Harbor. The young Lt. Robert E. Lee was commissioned to come up with a plan to solve this problem. This map illustrates his plan to build two dykes on either side of Bloody Island that would redirect the main flow of water to the west side of the island clearing all the silt from St. Louis forever.
Two cross section diagrams are shown as well as a cross section of the dykes at the top of the map. The project proved to be a success and within two decades the silt was clear from St. Louis and Bloody Island had become a part of the riverbank on the Illinois side of the Mississippi.
Condition: Map is in A condition with some light toning along two of the folds.
Inventory #18572
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