Railroads played a critical role in western expansion during the 19th century. Railroad companies encouraged people to settle in the frontier. They promoted communities, sold land and were a source of employment. As a result of their efforts, immigrants from the eastern states, as well as those from Europe and Russia, relocated throughout the West. Railroad maps provide a fascinating glimpse into the motivations of many of these immigrants.

A. Map Showing the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad System, with its Connections, by G.W. & C.B. Colton & Co., dated 1885, hand color (32.7 x 20.8"). Chartered in 1859, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway was originally built along the Santa Fe Trail. It eventually extended to California and exercised great influence on the settlement of the southwestern United States. Dated January 1, 1885, this map depicts the AT&SF with its lines shown in red hand coloring extending from Kansas City and Atchison to Guaymas, Mexico. Its connections with other companies are shown in blue and a few short co-owned lines are shown in yellow. 2,798.80 total miles are reported. Printed on banknote paper and issued folded. Condition: Issued folding with some short splits at fold intersections with minor image loss that have been closed with archival materials on verso. (A )

B. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway System, by Montross & Clarke Co., dated 1925, printed color (36.2 x 17.3"). This map illustrates how the railroad expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to become one of the largest railroads in the nation. The railroad lines are identified by bright red overprinting, and a legend indicates double tracks, projected tracks, spur tracks, and trackage rights. Condition: Fine. (A+)

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See description above.