Wisconsin Historical Society

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Map

The first railroad lines are advertised on a map.

Map of Wisconsin Exhibiting the Routes of the Principal Railroads Chartered or Proposed

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About this record

Seeking to stimulate business and settlement, many railroad promoters produced maps intended to highlight the various routes that had been chartered or proposed. Railroads had the potential to make or break the fortunes of many Wisconsin communities. This map by W.B. Mumbrute, which appeared as a supplement in a Stevens Point newspaper in 1855, advertises some of the first railroads in the state - - as well as some never built. It makes Stevens Point appear to be the thriving hub of Wisconsin's transportation network. Click "Zoom & Pan" for a closer look.

Citation

Mumbrute, W.B. "Map of Wisconsin Exhibiting the Routes of the Principal Railroads Chartered or Proposed." (Stevens Point: The Wisconsin Pinery; Milwaukee: H. Seifert, 1855).