1899 National Publishing Company Wall Map of the United States

This is an 1899 National Publishing Company wall map of the United States published shortly after the Spanish-American War. The map of the United States dominates the sheet, with the country's railroad network, river systems, and mountain ranges all appearing. However, given the recent victory over Spain during the war and the acquisition of Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam, along with Cuba as a protectorate, the Caribbean islands and the insets likely would have commanded just as much, if not more, attention from a contemporary audience. Dashed lines trace Plant Steamship Lines and Florida East Coast Steam Ship Lines routes in the Caribbean from Florida, informing viewers how Americans could visit their newly acquired overseas 'empire'. Cuba's rail network is illustrated as well.

The Insets

Insets appear along the left and bottom borders. Perhaps the most intriguing is the inset of the Philippines, which situates the archipelago in relation to China, Taiwan (Formosa), Korea, and Borneo. Shipping lanes are marked here as well, underscoring the Philippines importance in regional trade. An inset of Alaska (acquired from Russia in 1867) occupies the upper left corner. An inset of Hawaii (annexed in 1898) appears to the right of the inset of the Philippines and China just above an inset of the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean map situated the Philippines and Hawaii with relation to the U.S. West Coast, although it does not necessarily convey just how vast the distances are between these islands. Insets of Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas occupy the bottom border with a table of distances within the United States in the lower left corner.

The Spanish-American War

The Spanish-American War was fought between Spain and the United States between April 21, 1898, and August 13, 1898. The war started after the USS Maine suffered a massive explosion and sank in Havana Harbor. Tensions had been rising between the two countries for some time, with the U.S. showing support for Cuban independence while Spain claimed Cuba to be a province of Spain. After the fighting ended, the U.S. received the Philippines, Guam, and Puerto Rico along with Cuba as a U.S. protectorate.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by the National Publishing Company in 1899. We note two cataloged examples in OCLC which are part of the collections at the University of Michigan and Harvard University.