In the 1870s the great American tradition of bird's eye views became a popular way of depicting the seemingly limitless potential and growth of the great American cities. St. Louis was no exception and several documented the city's prominence in this period. This view is not drawn to scale, but does include an index to points of interest and two inset illustrations, of the "view of bridge from East St. Louis" and the "entrance to tunnel from Union Station."
Index: 1. U. Depot; 2. Four Courts; 3. Ent. Tunnel; 4. Post Office; 5. Court House; 6. Chamber of Commerce; 7. Genl. Office ST L. K.C.&N. RY.; 8. MO. Park; 9. Lafayette Pk.; 10. Shaws Gard; 11. Forest Pk.; 12. Fair Grounds; 13. North Park; 14. Bellefontain Cemetery; 15. Water Works, Statement of responsibility: Entered according to an Act of Congress in the year 1870, by C. K. Lord, in the office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
Despite the tagline, "Entered according to Act of Congress in the Year 1855 by J. H. Colton & Co. in the Clerks Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York." this map seems to be an updated version of Colton's 1855 map that appeared in an 1872 atlas.
This undated and unsigned map of the boundaries of St. Louis shows the growth of the city at different periods: 1780, 1822, 1839, 1841, 1855, 1860, and 1876.
