More Than Maps, Its Art.

Sometimes you come across book where the cover just screams, “pick me up, you know you cannot resist. That is how I felt when first seeing Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, 1876. First, the book is huge, these are maps after all. Closed, the book measures in at 14” x 17.5”. The paper is off white, a light cream, not yellow. The cover is ornate, full of detail and life. Then, you open up this wonderful atlas.

The two page centerfold is a plat, or plan, for Indianapolis from W. Durant, Civil Engineer, St. Charles Illinois. The lines are clean and beautiful, very easy to read. The map is nearly a work of art considering the tools to be had in the mid to late 19th century.

The title page provides a slightly different name to the atlas, Maps of Indiana Counties in 1876, Together with the Plat of Indianapolis and a Sampling of illustrations — Reprinted from Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, published 1876. This reprint was published by the Indiana Historical Society, 1968.

As the elongated title suggests, the rest of the book is an alphabetical collection of county maps. There are, also, beautiful illustrations to be found with in the book. Most illustrations, however, are found inside the front and back cover. The fact that this atlas will not sit neatly on any bookshelves, due to its size, should not dissuade anyone from picking up a copy. Think of it as a coffee table book. And, if you have ancestors who lived in Indiana around 1876, then this atlas carries the added benefit of possibly helping your research and help you identify with your past.

Family Roots Publishing has the Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, 1876 available today. Order here, Item #: IHS002.