Historic Railroad Map of Missouri - 1860
Description
The Hannibal & St. Joseph Railway was an important connection for westward travel in the 1800's. Before the line was completed there was not a speedy or safe way to transport goods across Missouri. St. Joseph, being the westbound travel center that it was in the mid-1800's, necessitated a good cross-state railway route.
Building began on the railroad in 1851 west from Hannibal. Following a government public land grant of nearly 600,000 acres in 1852, the railroad was able to clear and lay tracks east from St. Joseph. Before completion when the line was within 100 miles of linking in the middle, stagecoaches were used to finish the trip.
At the completion celebration at Cream Ridge, east of Chillicothe, a gold spike was driven to much fanfare. A vessel of Mississippi water was carried by rail and deposited into the Missouri River to signify the new link.
The Hannibal & St. Joseph was the first railroad to use four feet, eight and one-half inch rails which we now call standard-gauge rails. On April 3, 1860 during a planned attempt to surpass the railroad’s normal travel time from Hannibal to St. Joseph that usually took 12 hours, engineer Adison Clark drove the locomotive “Missouri” and one baggage car on an impressive four hour and twenty minute trip over the 190 mile railway. This feat enabled the railway to secure a contract with the United States Mail Service to expressly connect with the westward Pony Express offices at St. Joseph.
Two years later as Missourians were questioning whether to secede with the South, the Hannibal & St Joseph Railway was of great controversy. The majority of its stockholders and principal officers were northerners. Because of this the railroad sustained much damage in those years. In 1861 a bridge crossing the Platte River was destroyed allowing a train full of passengers to plummet into the river killing several.
This township map of northern Missouri and parts of Kansas and Illinois was drawn by G. Woolworth Colton in 1860. It features rivers, cities and towns, railroads, and the land grant to the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. Railroad profile is visible across the bottom of the map. Chartered in 1847 and completed in 1859.
Materials
Archive Paper
Premium fine art paper that provides accurate color reproduction with high-contrast, high-resolution print output and maximum image permanence. A high-quality print ready for framing.
More
- Museum quality paper for high-quality fine art.
- Ultra smooth, neutral white matte finish.
- Heavy-weight 230 gsm, 9.5 mil thickness.
- Printed with pigment inks for longer print life and enhanced fade resistance.
- Pigment based Canon LUCIA inks provide smooth tones and rich colors in fine, precise detail.
Luster Photo Paper
A premium semi-gloss photo paper with a subtle texture that produces a vivid, richly detailed print. This material results in an exquisitely detailed giclee print of substantially higher quality than a standard poster.
More
- Printed on 10 mil premium luster photo paper resulting in a brilliant, colorful image with a vivid life-like quality.
- Pigment based Canon LUCIA inks provide smooth tones and rich colors in fine, precise detail.
- Inks have a lightfastness rating of over 100 years, guaranteeing minimal noticeable fading over a very long period of time.
- Printed using very high resolution source files.
- Giclee printing is superior to traditional lithography in a number of ways: colors are brighter, lasts longer, and is a higher resolution.
Canvas on Wood Rails
A canvas giclee print is mounted to wooden hanging rails placed along the top and bottom of the map. Ready to hang on the wall using the attached hanging cord. Wood rails feature a natural finish.
More
- Premium 19 mil canvas material.
- Wood rails are 1 1/8" wide, round front.
- USA sourced solid maple wood.
- High quality giclee fine art print with a lightfastness rating of over 100 years.
- Pigment based Canon LUCIA inks provide smooth tones and rich colors in fine, precise detail.
Canvas Gallery Wrap
A high quality canvas giclee print is hand stretched over a sturdy wood frame. Printed on demand and handcrafted in Seattle, WA. The canvas gallery wrap serves as a stunning piece of art ready to hang on your wall.
More
- Premium 19 mil canvas material.
- Pigment based Canon LUCIA inks provide smooth tones and rich colors in fine, precise detail.
- High quality giclee fine art print with a lightfastness rating of over 100 years.
- Durable canvas mounted to a 1" deep wood frame.
- Ready to hang with included easy-to-use hanging kit.