1903 Scarborough Company Map of Eastern United States w/Cuba

This is a large and colorful 1903 two-section map of the United States by the Scarborough Company. Scarborough maps became popular in the early 19th century due to their impressive size, high quality, and striking typography. It was issued in the wake of the Spanish-American War and took advantage America's fascination with its new colonies. It also appeared just months after Cuba became independent.

A Closer Look - Western Sheet

This large-scale map covers the United States westward from North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas and includes parts of Minnesota, Iowa, and Missouri. This detailed map notes towns, villages, and cities throughout along with individually color-coded counties by state. Rivers, railroads, shipping routes, lakes, mountains, and a host of additional topographical features are also noted. Three insets detail the Philippine Islands, Alaska with the Aleutians, and the Hawaiian Islands.

A Closer Look - Eastern Sheet

This pocket map covers the United States east of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and Louisiana, including parts of Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Towns, villages, and cities are noted throughout along with individually color-coded counties by state. Rivers, railroads, shipping lines, lakes (including the Great Lakes), mountains, and a host of additional topographical features are also noted. A large inset of Cuba and another inset of Puerto Rico (Porto Rico) are included in the lower left quadrant of the map. Another inset showing the territorial growth of the United States from 1776 - 1902 is included under the title.

Our Colonies

As a result of the Spanish-American War of 1898, Spain ceded the Philippine Islands, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam. The Philippines remained an unincorporated territory of the United States until its independence was formally recognized in 1946. The United States purchased the 'Department of Alaska' from the Russians in 1867 and was organized as the Alaska Territory from 1884 to 1912. It was admitted to the Union as a state in 1959. Puerto Rico and Guam remain U.S. territories. Cuba formally gained independence in 1902, just a few months prior to the printing of this map.

Other Features

An index of the principal places in the United States is features along the right border of the map. The bottom right quadrant lists the principal railroad systems of the United States, showing mileage of each system. Two profiles of sections along the Panama Canal and the Nicaragua Canal are also included. While work on the Panama Canal would begin in 1880 and be completed in 1914, the proposed Nicaragua Canal to this date remains to be built, having been superseded by the Panama Canal.

Publication History and Census

This map was published in 1903 by the Scarborough Company, Boston, MA. It is based on an earlier map first issued by the National Publishing Company in 1901. Scarborough acquired National Publishing late in 1902, leading to the issue of this updated map with the Scarborough imprint in 1903. Well represented in institutions but increasingly scarce on the market.