|
||
|
|
|
|
This 1931 map presents an intricate web of air mail and passenger routes spanning the United States, Caribbean, Central America, and parts of South America. Compiled by the War Office, it captures the growing network of air travel in North America and beyond during a time when commercial aviation was still in its early stages, yet expanding rapidly.
The map color-codes different types of routes: solid red lines indicate contract air mail routes, black lines mark other operating routes, blue dotted lines highlight routes operated by Canadian companies, and blue dashed lines show services provided by foreign companies or subsidiaries of U.S. firms. This color-coding reflects the variety of entities involved in early commercial aviation, from national postal services to foreign operators.
Notably, the map emphasizes major hubs, particularly Chicago, St. Louis, and New York, which serve as central nodes for the air routes connecting various regions of the United States. The network extends southward through Texas and into Mexico, with routes branching out to the Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and as far south as Trinidad. The routes even reach the northern parts of South America, touching Venezuela, Colombia, and connecting to the broader Latin American network.
A smaller inset map focuses on the eastern part of the West Indies, underscoring the importance of these routes for trade and communication in the region. This inset reveals the extension of American aviation interests into the Caribbean, a region of strategic importance for the United States, particularly in terms of connecting to Central and South America.
The map offers a historical snapshot of the early days of commercial aviation, illustrating the ambition to build extensive networks and connect distant locations, a vision that would eventually transform global travel and commerce.
![Campaña Contra Los Americanos del Norte. Primera Parte [all issued]. Relación histórica de los Cuarenta Días que mandó en gefe el ejército del Norte el E. Sr. general de division Don Mariano Arista, Escrita por un oficial de infantería](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/95742.jpg)
![Ceske Osady V Americe [ A Correct Map of the United States of America Showing Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe R.R. and Connections ]](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/101348.jpg)
![[South Side of Nun's Palace, Uxmal; Palais Des Nonnes, à Uxmal; cote sud] [Plate 42 from:] Cités et Ruines Américaines](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/93938.jpg)