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This rare 1849 map of the Mississippi River illustrates the river’s course from St. Louis, Missouri, to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico, showcasing the river’s critical role as a transportation and trade artery in the mid-19th century. The map is highly detailed, marking significant bends, islands, tributaries, and towns along the river, reflecting its importance to commerce, navigation, and settlement during this period.
The map highlights key locations such as Natchez, Vicksburg, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans, as well as smaller towns and plantations, providing insight into the economic and geographic landscape of the Mississippi River Valley. Its careful rendering of the river’s twists and turns, along with the surrounding settlements, underscores the challenges of navigation in an era reliant on riverboats and flatboats.
Rarity
The map is apparently quite rare.
We were unable to determine the source of the map. The title corresponds with the map bound into the 1866 Appletons' hand-book of American travel, but this map bears a copyright for the Eastern District of PA and is dated 1849.
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