Old Town Key West Map 1884 — Bird's-Eye View, Framed Print

The story of this map

In 1884 Key West was the largest city in Florida, rich on cigars and salvage, and Henry Wellge drew it from the air for the Wisconsin publisher J. J. Stoner, who sold such views of hundreds of American towns. The island lies flat under the viewer: Old Town’s grid of streets running down to the wharves, ships at anchor in the harbour, Fort Zachary Taylor on its spit at the western tip, the lighthouse, the cigar factories with their long roofs, and the naval station. A key along the bottom numbers the landmarks.

It is the map people mean when they ask for Old Town Key West: every street the trolley still runs down is here, with the houses drawn one by one. The Library of Congress copy is a good impression of the lithograph; restored from the archive’s scan, keeping the paper tone.

Printed to order on archival matte paper or canvas, framed in the country of delivery.

Before and after

Left: the archive scan exactly as published. Right: the file that goes to the printer.

Bird's-Eye View of Key West, 1884: archive scan compared with the restored print

Archive scanRestored

Restoration notes

Restoration: cropped the scanner bed and mount margins, corrected levels and colour cast while keeping the paper tone, removed dust and specks, applied gentle sharpening. Fold lines, stains and period annotations are kept where they belong to the object; nothing is redrawn.

Every print carries its archive credit on the packing slip. Paper tone and small imperfections of the original are kept on purpose; nothing is redrawn.

Questions

What does the map show?

Key West in 1884 from above the harbour: the grid of Old Town with Duval and Front Streets, the wharves and the naval station, Fort Zachary Taylor at the tip, the cigar factories that made the town Florida's largest city, and the lighthouse, with landmarks numbered in a key.

Is this an original antique map?

No. It is a new archival print made from a restored high-resolution scan of the original held by the Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division. We never sell originals; the archive record and its rights statement are on this page.

Does it come framed?

Yes, if you choose a framed option: a black, white or natural oak wood frame, ready to hang, made in the country of delivery. Unframed archival matte paper and stretched canvas are also available at the larger sizes.

Colours vary between screens and paper. The tone you see here is a close match to the archival matte print; framed prints have no glass glare in these previews.

Pairs well with

Hang them together — 10% off the second framed print

Key West Nautical Chart, 1864

US Coast Survey · Library of Congress

$129 24×18 in framed · paper from $35

Antique Map of Florida, 1883

G.W. & C.B. Colton · Boston Public Library, Leventhal Map Center

$129 24×18 in framed · paper from $35

The discount is applied automatically at checkout when two or more framed prints are in the cart.

Size	Metric	Best for
16×12 in	41×30 cm	Desk, shelf, small wall, gallery groupings
18×12 in	46×30 cm	Desk, shelf, small wall, gallery groupings
20×16 in	51×41 cm	Above a desk or console, hallway, bedroom
24×16 in	61×41 cm	Above a desk or console, hallway, bedroom
24×18 in	61×46 cm	Above a desk or console, hallway, bedroom
30×20 in	76×51 cm	Over a sofa or bed, statement wall, office
30×24 in	76×61 cm	Over a sofa or bed, statement wall, office
32×24 in	81×61 cm	Over a sofa or bed, statement wall, office
36×24 in	91×61 cm	Over a sofa or bed, statement wall, office
40×30 in	102×76 cm	Over a sofa or bed, statement wall, office

Bird's-Eye View of Key West, 1884

Before and after

Restoration notes

Hang them together — 10% off the second framed print