1897 Garcia y Cubas Map of Michoácan, Mexico

A vibrant map of the Mexican state of Michoacán, published in 1897 for the Atlas Geográfico de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos.

A Closer Look

The state's subdivisions (districts and municipalities) are color shaded for easy distinction. Cities and towns, haciendas and ranchos, ports, roads, railways (existing and planned), waterways, and mines are labeled. Typical of the Porfiriato era (the presidency of Porfirio Díaz, 1884 - 1911), ambitious infrastructure plans are evident here, most obviously in the planned expansion of the rail network.

Land of Mountains and Lakes

Michoacán is known for its mountains, valleys, and lakes, as well as its distinctive culture with a strong pre-Columbian influence. The region was the heartland of the Purépecha Confederation or Empire, which was a contemporary and frequent enemy of the Aztecs. This background resulted in an initially smooth relationship with the Spanish, which was spoiled by a particularly overzealous and unscrupulous conquistador named Nuño de Guzmán. After a period of disorder, Vasco de Quiroga, the first bishop appointed to Michoacán, helped to reestablish trust between the indigenous people and the Spanish. Though the Purépecha Confederation was abolished and, over time, a typical system of criollo domination and exploitation emerged, the Purépecha people retained a strong presence, especially around Lake Pátzcuaro.

The state's capital and largest city, Morelia, and second largest city, Uruapan, are known for their historic colonial architecture, the former being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. Unfortunately, Zitácuaro, in the far east of the state, has not been so well preserved; it was burned down on three occasions during the tumultuous 19th century.

Publication History and Census

This map was published in Mexico City in 1897 by Vega y Cie. It is based on the 1886 work of Antonio García Cubas and was updated with additional border work for the 1897 issue of the Atlas Geográfico de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos. The atlas is represented in several institutional collections but is extremely scarce on the market. The individual maps, likewise, are scarce to the market.