This unique piece of Railway history was published in 1886, which marked the end of the third major Railway expansion in Michigan. This wave of construction was spurred on by the passing of legislation gifting the Railroad companies 5 million acres of land, which they could sell to build lines connecting major cities and towns. This allowed trade to boom across the state, allowing easy access to the states upper peninsula. The map details the connections at Toledo, Ann Arbor, and North Michigan, illustrating the connections and providing viewers a glimpse into the era. These hubs supported a thriving iron ore and copper industry form the western part of the state. Published before the final push of Railroad construction in the late 1880s, which saw the network grow from 1000 miles to over 9000 miles by 1890. This last period has been referred to by historians as Michigans Railroad mania. Ann Arbor saw a surge in population in the mid-1880s sparked by an expanding milling industry the region experienced a massive influx of immigrants from eastern Europe as well as Italy, and Greece. The city is also home to the University of Michigan, which relocated from Detroit in 1837. These maps were a valuable resource to residents and merchants alike and even included information regarding drainage. The maps also include detailed descriptions of Railroad traffic, which gives the viewer another level of context for what life was like at this time; this is an authentic piece of cartographical and Railroad history. 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 print makes the perfect gift for anyone that loves history and imagery.