Railroad Map Promoting Portland and the Lewis and Clark Centennial Expo

"Map of the Pacific Northwest", Railroad Companies, (Various)

This richly detailed promotional map was issued by the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company in the lead-up to the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition of 1905. Portland hosted this unofficial world's fair from June to October 1905 to celebrate the centennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The event was intended to showcase the growing city as an attractive place to live and do business. It attracted 1.6 million visitors and was the rare expo to turn an actual profit. The map boldly emphasizes the railroads and steamship routes, producing an "all roads lead to Portland" effect. It shows Washington, Oregon, western Idaho, and a portion of Montana, with towns and cities, roads, Indian reservations, and fine topographical detail. Text printed across the top and bottom of the map underlines the map's persuasive bent: "The Northwest presents the greatest opportunities for settlers of any position of 'Uncle Sam's' domain. For grains, grasses, fruit, live stock and minerals the territory embraced in this map is unequalled." On verso is a small bird's-eye view of the fair grounds, a map showing railroad connections to the Midwest, black & white photographs, and text with more information on the region. Copyrighted in 1898 by Poole Bros., but updated to 1904. Self-folds into a brochure (4.0 x 8.5") with the cover title Map and Short Story of the Pacific Northwest Embracing Oregon Washington Idaho.

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Condition: B+

Issued folding with a couple of short separations at bottom right with minute loss and some minor splits at the fold junctions. There are two small stains at bottom.