Published in The America Atlas in 1794 by John Reid, this map predates Cincinnati being incorporated as a city by 25 years. At the time, Fort Washington would have been the most significant landmark in the area where Cincinnati is located today. Fort Washington was one of the largest and most important fortifications in the West during this time. In his book, Wilderness for Sale: The Story of the First Western Land Rush, author Walter Havighurst describes the Fort Washington encampment as being “the Pentagon, the Capitol and the White House of the West.”

A small French trading post located near the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan is labeled as “Chicagou”

Several areas further west of Fort Washington (Cincinnati) are marked as reserved for revolutionary war troops. A 150,000 acre tract of land which was granted to Revolutionary War Hero General George Rogers Clark is labeled just north of present day Louisville, KY. Kentucky had only been a state for 2 years at the time of this map’s publishing date.

Almost a decade after this map’s publication, President Thomas Jefferson would ask General George Rogers Clark’s younger brother, William, to lead a team of explores to map the land west of the Mississippi River (labeled as “Louisiana”) which had been recently purchased from Napoleon Bonaparte for $15 million. This epic journey would later become know as the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

This early map of Ohio was drawn by Aaron Arrowsmith & Samuel Lewis and published in an 1812 atlas titled, “A New and Elegant General Atlas comprising all the new discoveries, to the present time.” Aaron Arrowsmith was considered to be the greatest surveyor and mapmaker of his day. This is further evidenced by the fact that just eight years prior to the publication of this map, Lewis and Clark had used Arrowsmith’s maps of the American West to help navigate the newly purchased Louisiana Purchase.

Survey of Big Blue River, Indiana. One of the positions designated in a Resolution of the Senate of United States passed December 18th, 1827 as a site for a national armory.

This “New Map of Ohio with its Canals, Roads & Distances” was engraved by E.B. Dawson and published in Henry Schenk Tanner’s 1836 atlas titled, A New Universal Atlas Containing Maps of the various Empires, Kingdoms, States and Republics Of The World.

Distances for travel via Steam Boat, Rail Roads and Leading Roads are accurately labeled throughout this detailed map.

An inset map of Cincinnati is in the bottom-right and a Profile of the Ohio Canal found bottom-center.

Originally published in Mitchell’s School Atlas by Philadelphia-based Thomas, Cowperthwait & Company. This map illustrates the “Western States” and their populations in 1839.

Western cities of note and their population:

Cincinnati, OH — 46,000 (6th largest populous in the U.S.)

Louisville, KY — 21,000

St. Louis, MO — 16,000

Pittsburgh, PA — 13,000

Detroit, MI — 9,000

Lexington, KY — 7,000

Cleveland, OH — 6,000

Columbus, OH — 6,000

Dayton, OH — 6,000

Chicago, IL — 4,500

Indianapolis, IN — 2,500

This 1851 print illustrates the Medical College of Ohio in Cincinnati. In 1896, the Medical College of Ohio merged with the University of Cincinnati. In 1920, the college changed its name to the College of Medicine of the University of Cincinnati.

Founded in 1819, the present-day Cincinnati College of Medicine is considered to be one of the oldest medical schools in the country.

unknown publisher

Published in 1862 by Colton & Fitch, this hand colored map illustrates “Western States” of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas.

At the time of this map being published, Cincinnati was a powerhouse in the west as the 7th largest city in the country with a population of 161,675. Chicago was the 9th largest city in the country with a population of 112,172.

Indian Territory is labeled where the state of Oklahoma would later become the 46th state to enter the union in 1907.

This map of Ohio was created by The Major & Knapp Eng. Mfg. & Lith. Co. on behalf of the U.S. Department of Interior’s General Land Office.

Dated October 2nd 1866, this map shows boundaries for the Ohio Company Purchase, designated Virginia Military Land, Symmes’s Purchase, Connecticut Reserve and Military Land. Additional text notes describe the natural resources found throughout different areas of the state.

The Symmes Purchase (or Miami Purchase) refers to the tract of land that sits between the Great Miami and Little Miami Rivers. Named after John Cleves Symmes, a Congressman and lead investor for a group of land speculators, the purchase was originally meant to be 1,000,000 acres. It is said that due to a botched survey and mishandling of the sale that Congress reduced the proposed Symmes purchase to 311,682 acres. On September 30th, 1794, Symmes would ultimately receive a signed U.S. Patent Deed, signed by George Washington, for a total of 248,250 acres.

Antioch College was founded in 1852 in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Antioch has a long track record of historic “firsts” when it come to equal opportunities for all - regardless of race, gender or religion. The institution’s views on inclusion were, unfortunately, rare at the time. This is evidenced by the text within an article titled, “Female Physicians” on the back of the page on which this print is featured by Harper’s Weekly.

Read more about the history of Antioch College (now Antioch University) by visiting their website: History of Antioch College

Published in Gaskell’s Popular Atlas of The World, 1888.

Published in 1889 for Rand, McNally & Co’s New Business Atlas and Shipper's Guide. Maps produced for this publication were highly detailed and thought to be the best maps for business and shipping needs of the era with special attention to even the smallest of villages.

This map of Indianapolis was published as part of George F. Cram’s Standard American Railway Atlas in 1892.

Scientific American was founded in 1845 and is the oldest continuously published monthly magazine in America. This issue is dated September 30th, 1893. It features inventions, patients and new products from the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.

This particular cover article features a fibrous material used for insulating and fire-proofing. According to archaeologists, the material was being used by humans for centuries; however, was made commercially popular by The H.W. Johns Company in the late 1850’s. This material, commonly referred to as Asbestos, was used heavily during America’s Industrial Revolution.

It would not be until the 1930’s that a link between Asbestos and cancer would be made definitive.

Published in 1895 for Johnson’s Universal Cyclopaedia.

Advertisement by Cincinnati-based Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. Published in the December 17th, 1898 edition of Harper’s Weekly.

The Christian Moerlein Brewing Co. was founded in 1853 on Elm Street in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. The brewery was 1 of 36 breweries in the Cincinnati area in the mid-1850’s and grew to become the 13th largest brewery in the country prior to Prohibition.

The advertisement boasts of awards at various shows and expositions, including the 1893 World’s Fair held in Chicago where Christian Moerlein exhibited his beer on the gallery level of the Agricultural Building.

Chromolithographic map and vignette illustrations on one side, text on verso. This is one of a series of premium cards issued in the late 1800s by Arbuckle Coffee Company, this being from the series of 50 states or territories, showing a map surrounded by vignette illustrations of "the peculiar industries and scenery." This card shows a map of Ohio (with information on area and population) surrounded by vignette illustrations of "Sheep Washing," "Shearing Sheep," "Wool Growing" and "The Garfield Monument, Cleveland." These trade cards were originally issued as advertisements for Arbuckle Coffee Company; therefore, they had exceptional popular appeal.

Detailed map of the State of Ohio with original coloring. Published in 1900 for George F. Cram’s “Unrivaled Family Atlas".

Detailed map of the State of Indiana with original coloring. Published in 1900 for George F. Cram’s “Unrivaled Family Atlas".

Published in The Rand McNally New Commercial Atlas, this map gives a view of the City of Indianapolis in 1920 - the first year of Prohibition.

1920 was also the year that the 8th annual International 500-mile Sweepstakes Race was held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. This racing tradition is now the highest attended annual sporting event in the world (350,000+) and is better known today as the Indianapolis 500.

Published by Funk & Wagnalls Co. in 1927.

Published in 1934 by the Ohio Commission to A Century of Progress International Exposition. Cartograph by Sewah Studios, Marietta, Ohio.

This map was published by the Ohio Commission for the Century of Progress International Exposition held in Chicago from May 26th — November 1st, 1934.

Text in bottom-right reads, “A good State to visit ~ Better yet to live in”

This pictorial map of Ohio was published in 1935 by Little, Brown and Company’s school textbook titled Our U.S.A., A Gay Geography. Ruth Taylor White illustrated all of the maps for the book. White was American cartographic illustrator who was know for her pictorial maps from the 1920’s to the 1940’s. This map includes many of her signature bobble-headed cartoon characters who romped through her colorful landscapes.

This rare Friendly Service Map of the Commonwealth of Ohio was Published by the Mobile Oil Company in 1940.

The map is highly detailed and just as informative as it is entertaining. A perfect example of how cartography has the ability to blend knowledge, history and entertainment into a piece of art.

This 1946 Riverfront Redevelopment Plan brochure was published by the Citizens Planning Association and the City Planning Commission of Cincinnati, Ohio. The futuristic-looking sketches show proposed plans for a Stadium, Convention Center, Parks and Apartments on the riverfront, as well as the city’s administrative buildings at the center of the redevelopment plan with convenient access to covered parking complete with a helicopter landing pad.