1902 Poole Brothers Railroad Map of the United States

Upon first glance, this 1902 Poole Brothers railroad map of the United States details the country's extensive rail network and gives pride of place to the Burlington Northern. Thick black lines trace the Burlington's main routes and dots mark all its whistle stops, while thinner lines identify nearly all the small railroads in operation across the county. However, when more closely examined, green overprinting jumps off the page and block lettering proclaims the history of America's westward expansion.

A Lesson in American History and the Spanish-American War

Aside from detailing the critical rail network snaking its way from coast to coast, Poole Brothers decided to include a history lesson on this piece. Published only four years after the Spanish-American War, pride at yet another armed victory pulsed through the American people. New territories, including the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico, had all been ceded by Spain as part of the 1898 peace agreement. The U.S. also annexed the Hawaiian Islands that year, and Midway and Wake Islands followed in 1900. Poole Brothers included insets of all this newly gained land and elected to carry the theme through to the continental United States. The green overprinting referenced above divides the U.S. into seven different sections and paints a picture of America's piecemeal expansion. These parcels were bought (Louisiana Purchase, Gadsden Purchase), annexed (Texas), and ceded as spoils of war (Mexican Cession), which allowed the United States to dominate a large portion of North America from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Publication History and Census

This map was created by Poole Brothers and 'issued by the Passenger Department of the Burlington Route' in 1902. Two examples are cataloged in the OCLC and are part of the institutional collections at the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Denver Public Library.