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This 1909 wall map of Illinois is a detailed railroad map, illustrating the extensive network of steam and electric railroads that crisscrossed the state in the early 20th century. The map serves as both a transportation guide and a geographic reference, highlighting the state's key rail connections, county divisions, and major urban centers.
One of the most striking features of the map is its comprehensive railroad network, which distinguishes between steam railroads and electric railroads. The color-coded legend allows users to trace specific routes operated by different railway companies, illustrating the dense web of rail infrastructure that played a crucial role in Illinois' economic and industrial growth. The electric railroads, or interurban lines, reflect the early 20th-century expansion of regional transit systems, which connected smaller towns to larger cities before the rise of automobiles.
The map also provides a detailed administrative breakdown, clearly marking county and township boundaries, along with the locations of cities, towns, and railway stations. Additionally, major rivers and waterways, including the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, are depicted, emphasizing the importance of both rail and water transport in the region.
A notable inclusion is the section on Chicago’s railroad depots and connections, which details major passenger terminals such as Union Depot, Central Station, and Dearborn Station. This highlights Chicago’s role as a national railroad hub, where numerous lines converged, facilitating freight movement and long-distance passenger travel.
George F. Cram (1842-1928), or George Franklin Cram, was an American mapmaker and businessman. During the Civil War, Cram served under General William Tecumseh Sherman and participated in his March to the Sea. His letters of that time are now important sources for historians of the Civil War. In 1867, Cram and his uncle, Rufus Blanchard, began the company known by their names in Evanston, Illinois.
Two years later, Cram became sole proprietor and the company was henceforth known as George F. Cram Co. Specializing in atlases, Cram was one of the first American companies to publish a world atlas. One of their most famous products was the Unrivaled Atlas of the World, in print from the 1880s to the 1950s.
Cram died in 1928, seven years after he had merged the business with that of a customer, E.A. Peterson. The new company still bore Cram’s name. Four years later, the Cram Company began to make globes, a branch of the business that would continue until 2012, when the company ceased to operate. For the final several decades of the company’s existence it was controlled by the Douthit family, who sold it just before the company was shuttered.
![[ Illinois ] Carte Geographique, Statistique et Historique de l'Illinois](https://storage.googleapis.com/raremaps/img/small/81812.jpg)
