State Historical Society of Iowa

Bird's-Eye View of Iowa City in Johnson County, Iowa, 1868

 Download Image Resource

Courtesy of Library of Congress, Ruger, A., "Bird's eye view of Iowa City, Johnson Co., Iowa," Chicago Lithographing Co., 1868

Description

This is a hand-drawn, bird's-eye view of Iowa City, Iowa, located in Johnson County. The illustration is from 1868 and shows the city next to the Iowa River. The town is laid out in a grid pattern, and the image shows that there is not a lot of trees and the area is relatively flat, but green. It appears that farmland is located off in the distance.

Source Dependent Questions

  • What year was this image created?
  • Describe the image. How is the town laid out?
  • Describe the landscape around the town. What do you notice about the land around the city?
  • What do you suppose the land around the city might be used for?

Citation Information

Ruger, A., "Bird's eye view of Iowa City, Johnson Co., Iowa," Chicago Lithographing Co., 1868. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress