Antique Maps of the United States - Ohio CD

Examine 44 brilliantly executed maps of Ohio’s burgeoning cities drawn between 1870 and 1899. The history of Ohio is as fascinating as the state itself. Perhaps the earliest records of the state date back to 1783, when the French ceded a large portion of land bordering the Great Lakes to the United States. Those early days, however, were beset with conflicts. Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Virginia laid strong claims to the territory. These were eventually settled by relinquishment of almost all of the claims and the organization of the Old Northwest by the Ordinance of 1787. Ohio emerged as the first region developed under the provisions of that ordinance.

Ohio held promise of a prosperous future that drew settlers from the East in thousands. These fortune seekers flocked to the territory by any means of transport available to them - flatboats and barges, or across the mountains by wagon - their numbers varying with conditions but steadily expanding the area's population. In 1803, Ohio entered the Union, with Chillicothe as its capital. Columbus became the permanent capital in 1816.

After the Civil War, industrial development made rapid strides when shipments of ore from the upper Great Lakes region increased and the development of the petroleum industry in NE Ohio shifted the center of economic activity from the banks of the Ohio River to the shores of Lake Erie, particularly around Cleveland. Immigrants began to swell the population, and huge fortunes were made.

Interestingly, Ohio boasts of many ‘firsts’ - the Wright Brothers, from Ohio, developed and flew the first airplane in 1903, the first Ambulance systems were established in Cincinnati in 1865, Cleveland is the home of America's first traffic light, Akron was the first city to use police cars, Cincinnati was the first city to have a professional fire department and Cleveland was the world's first city to be lighted electrically.

This CD tells the story of the development of Ohio in the post-Civil War years (1870 - 1899), through some of the most fascinating maps of Ohio’s cities from that era.

Sample thumbnails taken from the collection. Click on image to view larger picture.

CONTENTS:

44 brilliantly executed maps, which make up the contents of this CD enlighten you on Ohio’s burgeoning cities in the years between 1870 and 1900. Hand painted with great care, the maps present an aerial perspective of each city. Useful headers, notes and tags help you recognize the city and its landmarks. This rare CD is replete with accounts of Ohio’s fascinating past and is a great learning tool for students of history, cartography and architecture.

EDITORIAL REVIEW:

It’s amazing how much history, geography, philosophy, architectural insight and artistic genius can be packed into a single map. It requires a good hour’s browsing to make a note of all the details on a single map in this CD - that is if you happen to be a casual examiner. This rare and edifying CD is a virtual storehouse of information on the fascinating state of Ohio. Over 40 detailed and exquisitely designed masterpieces adorn this CD, acquainting you with the layout, significant landmarks, physical features, architectural tastes, modes of transport, level of industrialization and the fabulous foresight of city planners way back in the late 19th century.

This CD is akin to the fabled Pandora ’s Box. Using the zooming facility, you can narrow your examination down to a section of the city, and then click on to unravel the wealth of information packed into each map - details of streets, industrial buildings, houses vehicular traffic and individuals as well. How anybody could possibly fit in all those details onto a single map is beyond me. Each map represents hours of patient and painstaking labour, which makes it a rare and pricey work of art. The fact that these maps date back to over a century only adds to their vintage value.

I cannot think of a better way of researching Ohio’s resplendent past, and advocate without hesitation, the addition of this CD to your collection.

CUSTOMER'S REVIEWS:

"These maps are brilliant. I really couldn’t decide on whether they are geographical drawings of Ohio’s cities or simply works of exquisite art. I am certain they qualify for both categories. As an arts teacher, I was fascinated by these painstakingly hand-drawn maps. Thanks to A2ZCDS, I now have a great set of illustrations to offer my students."

Customer's Name: Tom Higgins (Boston, Massachusetts)