1881 Stoner View of Nantucket Town, Massachusetts

An impressive 1881 bird's-eye view map of the town of Nantucket, Massachusetts, by Joseph Stoner. This is considered the largest and best bird's-eye view of Nantucket. It emerged as the city was transitioning from a maritime whaling hub to a resort economy.

A Closer Look

The view looks southwest on Nantucket, showcasing the bustling harbor, rolling hills, and the sea beyond. Some 36 buildings are identified according to the numbered key at the base. These include eights 'Houses' (early large guest houses or hotels). Four of these, Ocean House, Sherburne House, Springfield House, and Ocean View House, Sconset Beach, are illustrated - likely paid placements. In addition, there are various churches, municipal structures, schools, and points of interest, such as the 'Old Mill, Built 1745' and 'Oldest House, Built 1686'.

Nantucket Harbor fills the foreground, with pleasure-boats far exceeding commercial vessels. The sidewheel steamer 'River Queen' prominently navigates into the harbor. The 'River Queen' was then being run by the New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamboat Company, but in this case, it may reference use of the steamer to visit Nantucket by Ulysses S. Grant in 1874. In the upper right corner are smaller inset views of Siasconset and the Sankaty Head Light House.

Historical Context

In 1881, Nantucket, an island off the coast of Massachusetts, was past its prime as a leading global whaling hub, but the town was fast pivoting towards tourism. The island's picturesque landscapes, historic homes, and seaside charm attracted visitors, leading to the establishment of hotels, guest houses, and an infrastructure to support a burgeoning tourist industry. This transformation marked the beginning of Nantucket's emergence as a beloved summer destination for the elite, many of whom constructed grand residences in town and elsewhere on the island.

American Bird's-Eye City Views

The Bird's-Eye view industry emerged in the United States in the middle part of the 19th century and coincided with the commercial development of lithographic printing. Before the rise of lithography, the ability to own and display artwork in the home was largely limited to the extremely wealthy, but the advent of lithographic printing made it possible for everyone to own visually striking artwork. A robust trade developed in portraits of political leaders, allegorical and religious images, and city views.

City views were being produced in the United States as early as the 1830s, but the genre exploded after the American Civil War (1861 - 1865). Bridging the gap between maps and pictures, most 19th century American bird's-eye views presented cities to the public from highpoints. Some were imagined, but others were drawn from hot-air balloons or nearby hills. The presentation, combining high elevation, commercial interest, and new printing technology created a uniquely American artform, as described by historian Donald Karshan,

Some print connoisseurs believe that it was only with the advent of the full-blown city-view lithograph that American printmaking reached its first plateau of originality, making a historical contribution to the graphic arts. They cite the differences between the European city-view prints and the expansive American version that reflects a new land and a new attitude toward the land.

The vogue for bird's-eye city views lasted from about 1845 to 1920, during which period some 2,400 cities were thus portrayed, some multiple times. Although views were produced in many urban centers, the nexus of view production in the United States was Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The major American viewmakers were Stoner, Wellge, Bailey, Fowler, Hill Ruger, Koch, Burleigh, Norris, and Morse, among others.

Publication History and Census

This map was published in 1881 by Joseph Stoner of Madison, Wisconsin, and printed by stone lithograph in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, by Beck and Pauli. Reps locates examples at the Connecticut Historical Society, Library of Congress, and Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia. OCLC further identifies holdings at the Massachusetts State Library, Pennsylvania State University, and the University of Connecticut, and the University of Illinois. We are also aware of an example at the Nantucket Historical Society. Scarce on the market.