1886 Rand McNally Railroad Map of Wyoming and Nebraska

This is an impressive and highly detailed 1886 Rand McNally map of Wyoming, Dakota, and Nebraska issued to promoted migration to free 'government lands' in the west. It also illustrates the route of the important Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad.

A Closer Look

Coverage extends from Yellowstone National Park (founded 1872) to Omaha, Nebraska. Although the map's focus is on the railroad line, the map is surprisingly detailed throughout, naming land agencies, mining districts, 'springs of petroleum', showing topography, and naming ranches. This striking detail stems from the maps secondary purpose, to propagandize emigration to free government lands in the west. Rich textual content on the verso explains the grant system, requirements, and processes, as well as promotes the virtue of the land and climate.

Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley Railroad

'The Elkhorn', as it was colloquially known, was a Nebraska railroad founded in 1869. The railroad initially centered around a line between Omaha ad Chadron - known as the 'Cowboy Line'. It began a series of expansions through the 1880s to reach the Black Hills, Rapid City (South Dakota), Belle Fourche (South Dakota), and Caspar (Wyoming). The railroad's founders recognized the fortunes to be made transporting emigrants to the vast acreage of free government lands in Nebraska, Wyoming, and Dakota. Every man who wanted it, was entitled to 160 acres of prime farmland - a nigh irresistible offer to the eastern poor. In the late 19th century, the Chicago and North Western Railway acquired The Elkhorn, merging it fully into their system by 1903. Today most of the lines are abandoned, but segments are operated as heritage railways.

Publication History and Census

This 1886 map was printed in Chicago by Rand McNally for the Fremont, Elkhorn, and Missouri Valley Railroad. Cartographically it is based upon a combination of U.S. Land Office maps and private railroad surveys. We are aware of only one other surviving example - that being located at Yale. The Yale example has different verso text, but the map is identical, suggesting multiple states.