This lithographed promotional map was produced by the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway, promoting their "Sunset Route," which offered the shortest and quickest connection to San Antonio and Western Texas.
The map prominently features the railway lines throughout Texas and adjacent regions.
The map was also included as folding plate in the 1876 book A Description of Western Texas, issued by the Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio Railway Company. However, in this instance, it is found in a rare separate form.
On the verso of this separate edition is an extensive text emphasizing the opportunities for settlers, particularly the fertile lands, ideal climate, and prime grazing regions of "Western" Texas. The text also promotes San Antonio as a destination for tourists and invalids, highlighting the city's salubrious conditions and comfortable accommodations.
The map reflects the railway company's broader efforts to encourage settlement and economic development in Texas during a period of rapid expansion and railway growth.