1881 Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Map of the United States

This is an 1881 Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific map of the United States illustrating their rail network. Published by the railroad in the first issue of their bulletin entitled 'The Western Trail', the map depicts the United States from the Pacific Ocean to Michigan, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Georgia and from the U.S.-Canadian border to Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. The main lines and spurs of most of the major railroads are illustrated and labeled, with the Rock Island's main lines in Illinois shown in bold lines and with every whistle stop marked and labeled. Once outside of Illinois, it became much less clear exactly which lines belong to the Rock Island, are partner lines, or are simply major railways in the western United States, like Union Pacific. Myriad cities, towns, and villages throughout the American West are labeled, along with rivers, lakes, and the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains. A view of one of the 'World Famous Dining Cars of the Great Rock Island Route' is situated in the lower left corner, just off the coast of Baja California. One side of the car has been removed, allowing the viewer to get an idea of what opulence and luxury awaits them on a trip aboard the Rock Island Railway.

This map was produced by the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railway and published in the first issue of their bulletin entitled 'The Western Trail' in May 1881. This example is accompanied by the entire first issue of 'The Western Trail.