The large index map, below, was tipped into the book Picturesque Rhode Island. It was printed on tissue-thin paper, which is now creased, torn and wrinkled. I have digitized it, somewhat imperfectly, on a flatbed scanner.
Download the map
- Either click the map to open it and enlarge it within your web browser, or right-click to “Save Image As” a jpg to your computer and open and enlarge as a jpg image.
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Map of Providence, Rhode Island, 1881
What is indexed?
I think the most interesting information on this map are the indices on the left and right sides. You could locate the schools, businesses and institutions your ancestors may have been involved with (however, resident names are not indicated). A few samples are below. The numbering system and street name allow you to locate each item on the map, although often only by seeing a building outline on the map.
Listings include:
- All streets
- Wharves
- Railroads
- Steamers
- Horse Railroads (describes the colors of the cars, and each route)
- Hotels
- Manufacturing Interests
- Churches
- Points of Interest (companies, govt offices, utility companies, monuments, hospitals)
- Cemeteries
- Amusements
- Parks
- Institutions
- Drives (9 scenic drives are described)
- Police Department
- Fire Department
- Public School Buildings
- Express Companies
- Telegraph Offices
- Daily Newspapers
- Ticket Agencies
Source
“Index Map of the City of Providence, R.I., compiled and drawn from the most reliable sources, 1881”, by Albert L. Bodwell. Providence: J.A. & R.A. Reid, 56 Weybosset Street, c1880. Tipped into the book Picturesque Rhode Island by Wilfred H. Munro. Providence: J.A. and R.A. Reid, 1881.
The post you are reading is located at: http://atomic-temporary-25588508.wpcomstaging.com/2013/07/14/a-map-of-providence-1881/
One Rhode Island Family 
HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY TO YOU, HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY TO YOU, HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY DEAR DIIIIIANNNNNE, HAPPY BLOGOVERSARY TO YOUUUUUU!!!!!!
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Thank you so much Sheri! Two years went by fast!!
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Thank you.
From my HTC Sensation 4G on T-Mobile. The first nationwide 4G network
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Diane: This is awesome! Thank you so much for scanning and posting this. Anyone with an interest in Rhode Island history and genealogy will find this useful and owes you a debt of gratitude Thank you!
I have a fragile 1838 map of Cumberland by Newell Nelson with an insert of a Plan of The Villages at Woonsocket Falls. It is 18″ x 24″. Can you email what you did to scan the Providence map and add the zoom and navigation functions? My home flatbed scanner is only 8.75″ x 12″.
John
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Thanks John. I would be so interested in that map and I would be sure to link to it here because I think some readers have a big interest in Cumberland, as I do. My scanner is a bit larger than yours but I think the same method would work. Scan at high resolution section by section being very careful to keep things square and not slanted. Thats the biggest challenge.
Then use the collage making function in a picture editing software – I think I downloaded a trial sample of software, big mistake, it added other software to my computer that I had to get rid of – Picassa might have worked just as well on the collage settings. Everything should be sized properly to fit back together but you will find any slight skewing of your scans will make things tough at this point. I ended up with things not quite perfect. A software that allows you to slightly spin each picture would be ideal.
DO NOT RESIZE ANTHING.
When done you have a giant sized file. I found it uploaded best in jpeg. Just place it as a normal picture in original size. The blog software will display it smaller but people can then enlarge it. Test this in Preview. GOOD LUCK!
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