From Smithsonian.com, you can explore an interactive historical map of Chicago before the Great Chicago Fire. This unique map, which you can view through a virtual spyglass, is part of the David Rumsey Map Collection. Rumsey, a passionate map enthusiast who has been collecting maps since the 1980s, describes this piece as a rare and valuable artifact. His collection now includes over 150,000 maps, making it one of the largest private collections in the United States. The map was created in 1868 by Rufus Blanchard, a well-known Chicago map publisher whose work thrived during the late 1800s. It was included in a guidebook titled *The Citizen’s Guide for the City of Chicago*. Despite being made of thin paper, the map is surprisingly durable, designed to be carried easily in a pocket—perfect for locals or visitors navigating the rapidly growing city. “Chicago was a very busy place back then,” Rumsey explains. “It was expanding quickly.” He points out the network of railroads visible on the map, noting that there were around seven major rail lines converging on the city at the time. Most of these are no longer there today. If you look toward the west, you’ll see how neighborhoods began to form in distinct, self-contained areas. But the east side also tells a story—particularly near Lake Michigan. “Chicago expanded eastward by filling in parts of the lake,” Rumsey says. “If you zoom in on the shoreline, you can see how much new land was added compared to older maps.” To support its growing population, the city used Lake Michigan creatively. For instance, they filled in parts of the shoreline to create more space, and even built structures like the “Lake Tunnel” and “Tunnel crib” in the upper-right corner of the map, which helped bring fresh water into the city. This map captures Chicago at the height of its growth—but just a few years later, the Great Chicago Fire would destroy large portions of the city. Rumsey highlights the areas that were burned, marked in pink, green, and yellow, showing how the fire devastated both the northern and southern sections of the city. Thanks, Jeff.

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