1878 Northern Pacific Railroad Map of Minnesota and the Dakotas

This is an 1878 Northern Pacific Railroad map of Minnesota and the Dakotas advertising land for sale. The map depicts the region from Wyoming and Montana to Lake Superior and Wisconsin and from Canada (British Possessions) to Iowa and Nebraska (though Nebraska is not labeled). Created as an advertisement proclaiming the availability of land for purchase within the Northern Pacific Railroad's land grant from the federal government, the grid organized by the Public Land Survey System is illustrated, along with counties, cities, towns, and rail lines. St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Mankato are among the identified cities and towns, and the several railroads other than the Northern Pacific are labeled, including the St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, the Winona and St. Peter Railroad, and the Southern Minnesota Railroad.

Public Land Survey System

First implemented in the Northwest Territory, the Public Land Survey System set up a method for the systematic surveying and mapping of any territory gained by the United States. This new process allowed for a peaceful and orderly westward expansion, and also facilitated the easy sale of land. Here, the townships and ranges are numbered, which makes the identification of the specific township desired by a potential buyer much easier.

Route of the Northern Pacific Railroad

The route of Northern Pacific Railroad is illustrated in northern Minnesota and modern-day North Dakota, with sidings and station stops labeled. Duluth, Brainerd, and Moorhead, Minnesota are located along the route, as are Fargo and Bismarck, North Dakota. Smaller towns and sixteen sidings are also labeled along the route. The shaded gray lines on either side of the Northern Pacific Railroad indicate the extent of the land grant bestowed on the railroad by the federal government. These land grants were used by the railroads to fund construction by selling the land and using the income to finance the project. The townships colored red on either side of the Northern Pacific had already been sold by the railroad when this advertisement was printed, while the blue indicates land for sale by E. Sawyer, Special Commissioner, St. Paul Minnesota.

This map was created by the Northern Pacific Railroad and lithographed and printed by The Pioneer Press Company of St. Paul, Minnesota.

This map is quite rare with the OCLC identifying only 3 examples, at the Minnesota and Wisconsin Historical Societies and at the University of Utah.