Produced by prominent and prolific American lithographer and mapmaker Albert Ruger, this detailed depiction of Madison, WI shows it in a period of significant growth and transformation. Ruger was a pioneering artist and one of the earliest producers of birds eye perspectives, which bear a unique aesthetic and are immediately recognizable. These depictions were popular from the latter portion of the late nineteenth century until the 1920s. They served as civic marketing tools, noting prominent businesses and local features to attract industrialists and workers alike. Merchants and residents would also display them in a show of civic pride. Ruger’s illustrations are included in the Smithsonian archives as well as the Library of Congress, and his work set the standard for perspectives.
Madison was the last stop for Union forces heading south during the Civil War and became a critical army center for the Union. Published two years following the conclusion of the Civil War, this depiction shows Madison in a time of expansion. As the railroad’s increased access, Madison was transforming from a small town, and its population had grown to nearly ten thousand. As Northern European immigrants settled in the region, many neighborhoods and communities were established along cultural lines that still exist to this day.
Madison’s geographical location made it the ideal city to be established as the state capital in 1836. Between the larger industrial Milwaukee in the East and the rich mining regions in the West, Madison quickly became a cultural center for all of Wisconsin.
Our museum quality giclee print comes printed with archival ink on premium heavyweight matte paper. Shipped in a sturdy cardboard tube your print will arrive ready to be framed. This eye-catching vintage map reproduction print makes the perfect gift for anyone that loves history and imagery.
