A. Ruger's Birdseye map Peoria, Illinois in 1867.
| Birdseye Map of Peoria, Ill | |
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| Date: | 1867 |
| Author: | A. Ruger |
| Dwnld: | Full Size (12.8mb) |
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| See our Prints Page for more details | |
This map isn't part of any series, but we have other Illinois maps that you might want to check out.
Ruger's Peoria [gmap], Illinois is an odd little image that draws one's attention to a peculiar “V” shaped set of bridges; one a plank road, and one a rail line.
As near as I can tell, the bridges were near'bouts where the modern-day I74 Bridge crosses. I welcome any clarification about this odd configuration
Peoria was the oft-talked-about hometown of Richard Pryor; it'd come up in his bits quite often. I think he was a pretty clever guy, for the record.
For more maps and images from this period in Peoria's history, visit the Illinois State Historical Society.
I remember crossing the Franklin Street Bridge as a youngster and there were pilings from an old abandoned railroad bridge off to the SW side. The Franklin Street Bridge was later torn down to make way for the Bob Michel Bridge of today. No question in my mind that the two bridges in the drawing were the Franklin and the railroad bridge remnants that I saw. The span on the Peoria side was on a swivel to let barge traffic through.
I agree with the above post. I would guess this is the Franklin Street Bridge which was removed for the Robert Michel Bridge (Illinois Route 40).
I believe these bridges would have been about 6 blocks or so southwest of the current I-74 bridge, near the location of the current Bob Michel Bridge, which carries Route 29 across the Illinois River.
Thanks for this site!