Birdseye map of Chicago by Parsons and Atwater – 1874
US40 #3 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (Birdseye Map, 1874, Parsons and Atwater) |
|
---|---|
![]() |
|
Date: | 1874 |
Author: | Parsons and Atwater |
Dwnld: | Full Size (13mb) |
Source: | Library of Congress |
Print Availability: | |
![]() |
|
See our Prints Page for more details |
This map is part of a series depicting the 40 largest cities in the United States (as ranked by CBSA). This series will run through the month of July.
Here is some boilerplate Currier and Ives stuff, this time in Chicago, Illinois [gmap] flavor. If you like this, make sure to check out the other Big Map Blog maps of Chicago.
Is it beautiful? Sure, but there's something sinister and repetitive to all the C&I birdseyes. Something sort of saccharine or something. Also: those tortured cloud shadows they put on everything... what's up with that? It's cool for adding realism, but it's also got this apocalyptic effect that's unsettling.
Still gorgeous, though... but kind of eerie gorgeous.
For more map resources and imagery from this period in Chicago's history, check out the Illinois State Historical Society's website.

