Rare Old Map of St. Paul, Minnesota by USGS, 1967: South St. Paul & Mississippi River
Restored in our London workshop from the original 1993 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.
Restored in London • Printed and framed in the UK
Restored from the original 1993 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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Gift message & custom finish
If you want to add a gift message, or a finish (jigsaw, aluminium board, etc.) that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
You can also contact us before you order, if you prefer!
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Published in 1993 using survey data from 1967, the USGS map titled “St. Paul East” captures a richly detailed eastern portion of...
Continue readingPublished in 1993 using survey data from 1967, the USGS map titled “St. Paul East” captures a richly detailed eastern portion of Minnesota’s capital at a pivotal moment in its late twentieth-century development. Drawn at the authoritative 1:24,000 scale, it presents St. Paul not as an abstract city plan, but as a living terrain of bluffs, river corridors, neighborhoods, roadways, rail lines, lakes, reservoirs, and green spaces. The Mississippi River forms one of the map’s defining presences, shaping settlement, industry, transportation, and recreation alike. South St. Paul appears within this broader metropolitan fabric, giving the sheet both civic specificity and regional scope. The result is a compelling topographic portrait of an urban landscape still visibly bound to its natural geography.
The United States Geological Survey brought to this map the disciplined clarity and technical precision for which its quadrangles are renowned. Rather than privileging one feature over another, the USGS style layers human and physical geography into a coherent visual system: contours describe elevation; blue identifies water; green indicates parks and wooded areas; black and red articulate roads, buildings, and transportation networks. Patterns and shading distinguish land uses and surface conditions, allowing the viewer to read the city as both infrastructure and landform. At 1:24,000 scale, even modest changes in relief, route alignment, and shoreline configuration become legible. This is cartography with an engineer’s rigor and a historian’s gift for preserving the momentary arrangement of place.
St. Paul’s eastern districts are especially well suited to topographic mapping, where the urban grid is constantly negotiating the curves and cuts of the Mississippi River valley. The river’s broad course, associated lowlands, and adjacent elevations help explain the placement of roads, railways, industrial corridors, and residential neighborhoods. South St. Paul, long associated with stockyards, river commerce, and working landscapes, sits within this geography of movement and exchange. Lakes, reservoirs, and parklands punctuate the map, revealing the city’s softer green and blue framework amid its dense transportation web. Trails and open spaces add another layer of civic life, while the mapped roads and railways illustrate how St. Paul functioned as a connected metropolitan center within the Twin Cities region.
The distinction between the 1967 survey data and the 1993 publication date gives this sheet particular historical resonance. It preserves a surveyed landscape from the era of postwar expansion, freeway construction, suburban growth, and changing industrial patterns, while arriving in published form at the threshold of another metropolitan chapter. For researchers, collectors, and admirers of urban history, this time gap invites comparison: which roads were established, which neighborhoods had taken shape, which natural features remained constant, and where later development may have transformed the terrain. The map becomes more than a navigational aid; it is a document of accumulated change, recording St. Paul at the intersection of older river-based geography and modern urban infrastructure.
As a visual object, “St. Paul East” offers the particular pleasure of a USGS quadrangle: restrained, exacting, and quietly beautiful. Its color-coded language rewards close looking, turning the complexity of a city into an ordered field of signs without sacrificing the character of the place itself. The Mississippi’s sweep, the texture of streets and rail lines, the interruption of parks and water bodies, and the measured articulation of elevation all combine to create a nuanced portrait of St. Paul’s eastern side. It is a map for those drawn to cities as layered landscapes—places where geology, transportation, civic planning, and memory coexist. In its precision, it preserves the geography of a capital city with uncommon elegance.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- St. Paul
- South St. Paul
- Mississippi River
- Lakes, as marked
- Parks and green spaces, as marked
- Roads, as marked
- Neighborhoods, as marked
- Trails, as marked
- Reservoirs, as marked
- Railways, as marked
Historical context & cartographic details
- Produced by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
- Created using survey data from 1967 and published in 1993.
- Historical 1:24,000 scale topographical map of St. Paul, Minnesota, and the surrounding area.
- Uses color coding, patterns, and shading to distinguish topographic features and land usage.
- Shows a mix of urban and natural landscapes, including elevation changes and water bodies.
- Reflects development and landscape changes in St. Paul since 1967, offering insight into urban growth and geographic modifications over time.
Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.
Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.
The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.
Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.
Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.
This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.
For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.
Published in 1993 using survey data from 1967, the USGS map titled “St. Paul East” captures a richly detailed eastern portion of Minnesota’s capital at a pivotal moment in its late twentieth-century development. Drawn at the authoritative 1:24,000 scale, it presents St. Paul not as an abstract city plan, but as a living terrain of bluffs, river corridors, neighborhoods, roadways, rail lines, lakes, reservoirs, and green spaces. The Mississippi River forms one of the map’s defining presences, shaping settlement, industry, transportation, and recreation alike. South St. Paul appears within this broader metropolitan fabric, giving the sheet both civic specificity and regional scope. The result is a compelling topographic portrait of an urban landscape still visibly bound to its natural geography.
The United States Geological Survey brought to this map the disciplined clarity and technical precision for which its quadrangles are renowned. Rather than privileging one feature over another, the USGS style layers human and physical geography into a coherent visual system: contours describe elevation; blue identifies water; green indicates parks and wooded areas; black and red articulate roads, buildings, and transportation networks. Patterns and shading distinguish land uses and surface conditions, allowing the viewer to read the city as both infrastructure and landform. At 1:24,000 scale, even modest changes in relief, route alignment, and shoreline configuration become legible. This is cartography with an engineer’s rigor and a historian’s gift for preserving the momentary arrangement of place.
St. Paul’s eastern districts are especially well suited to topographic mapping, where the urban grid is constantly negotiating the curves and cuts of the Mississippi River valley. The river’s broad course, associated lowlands, and adjacent elevations help explain the placement of roads, railways, industrial corridors, and residential neighborhoods. South St. Paul, long associated with stockyards, river commerce, and working landscapes, sits within this geography of movement and exchange. Lakes, reservoirs, and parklands punctuate the map, revealing the city’s softer green and blue framework amid its dense transportation web. Trails and open spaces add another layer of civic life, while the mapped roads and railways illustrate how St. Paul functioned as a connected metropolitan center within the Twin Cities region.
The distinction between the 1967 survey data and the 1993 publication date gives this sheet particular historical resonance. It preserves a surveyed landscape from the era of postwar expansion, freeway construction, suburban growth, and changing industrial patterns, while arriving in published form at the threshold of another metropolitan chapter. For researchers, collectors, and admirers of urban history, this time gap invites comparison: which roads were established, which neighborhoods had taken shape, which natural features remained constant, and where later development may have transformed the terrain. The map becomes more than a navigational aid; it is a document of accumulated change, recording St. Paul at the intersection of older river-based geography and modern urban infrastructure.
As a visual object, “St. Paul East” offers the particular pleasure of a USGS quadrangle: restrained, exacting, and quietly beautiful. Its color-coded language rewards close looking, turning the complexity of a city into an ordered field of signs without sacrificing the character of the place itself. The Mississippi’s sweep, the texture of streets and rail lines, the interruption of parks and water bodies, and the measured articulation of elevation all combine to create a nuanced portrait of St. Paul’s eastern side. It is a map for those drawn to cities as layered landscapes—places where geology, transportation, civic planning, and memory coexist. In its precision, it preserves the geography of a capital city with uncommon elegance.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- St. Paul
- South St. Paul
- Mississippi River
- Lakes, as marked
- Parks and green spaces, as marked
- Roads, as marked
- Neighborhoods, as marked
- Trails, as marked
- Reservoirs, as marked
- Railways, as marked
Historical context & cartographic details
- Produced by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
- Created using survey data from 1967 and published in 1993.
- Historical 1:24,000 scale topographical map of St. Paul, Minnesota, and the surrounding area.
- Uses color coding, patterns, and shading to distinguish topographic features and land usage.
- Shows a mix of urban and natural landscapes, including elevation changes and water bodies.
- Reflects development and landscape changes in St. Paul since 1967, offering insight into urban growth and geographic modifications over time.
Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.
Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.
This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.
The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.
Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.
Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.
This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.
For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.
Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.
Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.
We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.
- We can deliver directly to the recipient
- Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
- Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
- Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
- 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide
If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.
Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.
We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.
Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.
Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.
Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.
If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.
Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.
Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.
Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.
We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.
Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.
Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.
All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.
If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.
Every Unique Maps piece begins with an authentic cartographic source or an original design from our London studio.
For our historic maps, we source rare originals from libraries, archives, auction houses and private collections around the world. We carefully restore each map for print—repairing age-related damage, balancing colour and improving clarity while preserving its original detail, texture and character.
Once restored, the map is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.
Our map prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks, creating a rich, non-glossy finish designed to last. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
Canvas, cotton-rag and other specialist presentations are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.
Personalising your map
You can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. For personalised designs, we send a proof before printing and you can request changes before approval.
For more complex bespoke commissions, contact our design team.
Original or Aged
Choose Original for true-to-source colour, or Aged for a warmer, richer antique character created with our specialist ageing process. See examples of our Aged maps.
We’ve been restoring and producing maps and art prints since 1984, and we stand behind every piece.
Every order is covered by our 10-year guarantee and damage-free delivery guarantee. If your piece arrives damaged, we’ll replace or remake it free of charge. If anything else isn’t right, contact our workshop team and we’ll put it right promptly.
See our returns and refund policy for full details.
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