1873 Stringer / Dercum Map of Cleveland, Ohio

This is an impressive 1873 William Stringer and Otto Dercum large-scale map of Cleveland, Ohio. The map was drawn to illustrate the Super Street Viaduct, a transformative infrastructure project that prompted a wave of urban expansion in the late 19th century.

A Closer Look

Centered loosely on the Cuyahoga River, coverage embraces metro Cleveland from West Cleveland Village to (roughly) modern-day Euclid-Green, and from Lake Erie to Brooklyn Village. The map is divided according to city wards, with most streets named and railroad connections clearly marked.

The map's raison d'être is the ongoing construction of the Superior Street Viaduct, depicted in a view at top center. The Viaduct was a major ongoing infrastructure project that promised to transform Cleveland by connecting the eastern parts of the city to the urban center.

Superior Street Viaduct

The Superior Street Viaduct was a major 19th-century infrastructure project in Cleveland, Ohio intended to link the east and west sides of the city. Constructed between 1875 and 1878, the grandiose Viaduct was Cleveland's first high-level bridge. It was built of Berea sandstone with massive stone arches supporting the superstructure. At the time, Cleveland was rapidly industrializing, and the Viaduct was seen as essential for improving transportation, commerce, and urban expansion. A swinging center span - depicted here - was included to allow ships to pass, reflecting the city's reliance on Great Lakes shipping. For decades, the Viaduct served as a major thoroughfare, but as Cleveland grew, newer bridges eventually rendered it obsolete. Portions of the structure were demolished in the 1920s, though some remnants, including the stone arches, still exist.

Publication History and Census

This map was drafted by Otto Dercum and published in 1873 by William Stringer. It was printed in New York by Ferdinand Mayer. We see just three examples in OCLC: Cleveland Public Library, the British Library, and the William Clements Library. Extremely rare on the market.