Produced by the prolific mapmaker Rand Mcnally, this railroad and transportation map of Louisiana in 1896 depicts the state in a time of great transition as reconstruction and the turn of the century approached. The Mississippi River had long been a crucial trade route for getting goods into the midwest. The main entry at New Orleans had kept the iconic American city thriving, and the 1890s were no different. People from across the globe came through the city, and its French roots mixed with local Creole culture had developed into a distinct melting pot found nowhere else. During the Civil War, the capture of the Mississippi by Union forces marked a turning point in the war, and Union victory became apparent due to the significant importance of the river to Confederate forces. The late 20th century saw significant advances in shipbuilding, and the proliferation of locks, levees, and dams along the river started. Much of this engineering occurred to keep the river from shifting into the Atchafalaya River, thus bypassing New Orleans. The acquisition of Louisiana, as negotiated in 1803, included a vast amount of North American territory. France was engaged in multiple conflicts and needed capital to finance these clashes, allowing the new nation to acquire 828,000 sq mi of land for fifteen million dollars. The purchase would become a pivotal part of the American notion of Manifest Destiny and redefine the geography and geopolitical landscape of America. This map is truly an authentic piece of cartographical history.
