Historic Pittsburgh Map 1902 — Fowler's Bird's-Eye View, Framed Print

The story of this map

Thaddeus Mortimer Fowler drew more American towns from the air than anyone who ever lived — over four hundred bird’s-eye views in fifty years — and Pittsburgh in 1902 was the biggest subject he took on. The city is seen from high above the Ohio, looking up the two rivers to the Point: the Golden Triangle packed with office blocks, the Monongahela and Allegheny crossed by a dozen bridges, the steel mills of the South Side and Strip District smoking, and the inclines climbing Mount Washington in the foreground. A numbered key along the bottom names the landmarks.

Fowler’s views were sold by subscription to the businesses shown in them, which is why every mill and warehouse is drawn with care, and they are now the best picture of what these cities looked like at their industrial peak. The Library of Congress copy is a clean impression of the chromolithograph; we have restored it from the archive’s scan, keeping the paper tone and cleaning the dust.

Printed to order on archival matte paper or canvas, framed in the country of delivery. The wide sheet suits 24×16 and 36×24.

Before and after

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

Fowler's Bird's-Eye View of Pittsburgh, 1902: 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?

The whole city from the air in 1902: the Point where the Allegheny and Monongahela meet, the Golden Triangle's grid, the mills smoking along both rivers, the inclines up Mount Washington, and every bridge, with landmarks numbered in the key along the bottom.

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

Scull Map of Pennsylvania, 1770

William Scull · Library of Congress

$129 24×18 in framed · paper from $35

Perspective Map of Denver, 1889

H. Wellge · Library of Congress

$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

Fowler's Bird's-Eye View of Pittsburgh, 1902

Before and after

Restoration notes

Hang them together — 10% off the second framed print