City Portraits

City portrait views are increasingly common during the mid-1800s. Agents travel from city to city, looking for merchants who will sponsor a custom lithograph.

Many have insets around the edges featuring local businesses. The views below show only a portion of the original image, to highlight the amazing detail.
Battle Creek, Michigan, 1870

  Battle Creek, Michigan
This view of Battle Creek is typical of the many town and city portraits sponsored by local businesses.

Bangor, Maine, 1870

  Bangor, Maine
Maine's big industry is logging, and Bangor is the center of the business. Notice all the lumber rafts waiting in the river at the far right, and all the lumber schooners tied up at the wharves.


Sandusky, Ohio, 1870

  Sandusky, Ohio
Sandusky's big industry is also lumber, pulling from the rich hardwood stands of the Ohio and Erie plains.