Skeleton map of the overland mail route to California

Outlines southern and central routes proposed for express postal service in the western United States. The southern route, in green, includes Memphis, Tenn., El Paso, Texas, and San Francisco, Calif. The central route, in red, includes Saint Louis, Mo., Albuquerque, N.M., and San Francisco. "Route adopted by the [Post Office] Department traced in green. Route proposed by John Butterfield and others (who were the lowest bidders) in red." "In the text, Butterfield presses the advantages of his [central] route over that chosen [the southern route]. The broadside was circulated by parties dissatisfied with the decision of Postmaster General Brown of Tennessee to take the road through Tennessee and bypass northern cities ... The date is 1857." -- Storm, Colton. Catalogue of the Everett D. Graff Collection of Western Americana (1968), p. 82-83, no. 526 Scale [1:16,100,000]. Lithographed. Forms part of the Everett D. Graff Collection of Western Americana at the Newberry Library.

Original Collection:

Everett D. Graff Collection of Western Americana (Newberry Library)

Referenced In:

Newberry Library. Cat. of the Everett D. Graff Coll. of Western Americana, 526

Citation

"Skeleton Map of the Overland Mail Route to California" [United States? : s.n., 1857?]. VAULT broadside Graff 526

Newberry Call Number:

VAULT broadside Graff 526

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Geographic Area Covered:

United States, West

Original Resource:

Digital reproduction of: 1 map : hand col. ; 20 x 33 cm, on sheet 44 x 36 cm.

Digital Image Rights Holder:

Newberry Library

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The Overland Mail Route to California, 1857

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The Overland Mail Route to California, 1857