Collot’s maps of Louisiana were made in 1796 and were most likely planned for military intrigues and colonial conquest, but the work transcended its purpose in thoroughly documenting the earliest settlements of the Illinois Country. These plans were the most detailed to their time. Voyage dans l’Amerique Septentrionale ou Description des Pays arroses par le Mississipi, l’Ohio, le Missouri, et autres Rivieres Affluentes &c. Paris: Bertrand, 1826. Scale of 200 Fathoms., From Collot's work "Voyages dans l'Amérique Septentrionale, ou Description des pays arrosés par le Mississippi, l'Ohio, le Missouri et autres rivières affluentes..." Published in Paris by A. Bertrand, 1826.
In the time of the flatboats and the coming of the first steamboats documented so well through the early American navigational river guides, maps clearly indicated a future problem for St. Louis and its highly praised river harbor—the city was essentially on a peninsula which could become a remote island due to floods and other naturally occurring circumstances over time. The many islands and sand bars in the river were alarming testament in early maps., The western pilot : containing charts of the Ohio River, and of the Mississippi from the mouth of the Missouri to the Gulf of Mexico, accompanied with directions for navigating the same, and a description of the towns on their banks, tributary streams, etc. Also, a variety of matter interesting to all who are concerned in the navigation of those rivers / by Samuel Cumings. Cincinnati : Morgan, Lodge and Fisher, printers, 1825.
Collot’s maps of Louisiana were made in 1796 and were most likely planned for military intrigues and colonial conquest, but the work transcended its purpose in thoroughly documenting the earliest settlements of the Illinois Country. These plans were the most detailed to their time., From Collot's work "Voyages dans l'Amérique Septentrionale, ou Description des pays arrosés par le Mississippi, l'Ohio, le Missouri et autres rivières affluentes..." Published in Paris by A. Bertrand, 1826.
In the time of the flatboats and the coming of the first steamboats documented so well through the early American navigational river guides, maps clearly indicated a future problem for St. Louis and its highly praised river harbor—the city was essentially on a peninsula which could become a remote island due to floods and other naturally occurring circumstances over time. The many islands and sand bars in the river were alarming testament in early maps.
Beck came to St. Louis briefly and practiced medicine. Returning to New York he produced a series of guides and gazetteer information, including this first for Illinois and Missouri., A gazetteer of the states of Illinois and Missouri : containing a general view of each state, a general view of their counties, and a particular description of their towns, villages, rivers, &c., &c. : with a map, and other engravings / by Lewis C. Beck. Albany : Printed by C.R. and G. Webster, 1823.
An early European map showing the origin of all the major rivers in one high elevation, still strongly viewed as a possibility in the unexplored territories. The young United States, including Missouri and Arkansas, are outlined in yellow—“Missiri” is the territorial name, “Sn. Luis” is the name used for the state of Missouri. The Pacific Northwest is outlined in blue as “Colombia” and, again, most of the Louisiana Territory, as “Missiri, in red. By Pablo Alabern i Moles.
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.
