Click on this map for a full-size annotated version.
This is “Barclay, Clark & Co.’s 1893 Bird’s Eye View Chromolithograph” – a detailed, photo-like, colour drawing of Toronto at the end of the 19th century. Some artistic license emphasizes important landmarks, and includes not-yet-completed buildings, while blurring out less interesting regions.
I saw a full-size print of this 130-year-old map hanging at the Sheraton Centre in downtown Toronto, and decided to download a digital copy and annotate it. Enjoy learning about the history of the city using a fun and interactive interface!
Over 250 past and present Toronto landmarks!
I particularly like this map for several reasons:
- This is Toronto’s 100th anniversary map!
- It is incredibly detailed relative to its age. There is so much to discover!
- Toronto has few surviving structures from the 18th century, and this map includes structures built as late as 1899. Thus, virtually all structures found on this map are 19th century, while most not found on this map are 20th century or later. What a great memory heuristic!
- There is also conveniently a Goad’s 1893 Atlas from exactly the same year to corroborate source material:
Additional useful resources:
List of annotated landmarks (for SEO purposes):
- City Hall
- Ontario Parliament Building
- Ontario Legislative Building
- Government House
- Cathedral Church of St. James
- St. Michael’s Cathedral Basilica
- Knox Church
- Metropolitan Wesleyan Methodist Church
- Elm Street Methodist Church
- Beverley Street Baptist Church
- Zion Congregational Church
- Erskine Presbyterian Church
- St. Margaret’s Church
- Little Trinity Anglican Church
- Church of the Ascension
- Union Station
- City Hall Station
- Gooderham & Worts – Distillery District
- Gooderham & Worts – Grain Elevator
- Toronto Brewing and Malting Co.
- Fort York
- Stanley Barracks – Officers’ Quarters
- Toronto Armories
- Drill Shed
- St. Lawrence Hall
- St. Lawrence Market North
- New Market House
- William Davies Company pork packing plant
- Western Cattle Market
- University of Toronto – St. George campus
- Knox College
- Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory
- Stewart Building
- Trinity College
- Upper Canada College – Russell Square campus
- Upper Canada College – Deer Park campus
- Wykeham Hall
- Exhibition Place
- Crystal Palace
- High Park
- Allan Gardens
- T. Eaton Company
- The Mail Building
- Confederation Life Building
- Canada Life Assurance Company
- Canadian Bank of Commerce
- Molsons Bank
- Traders Bank of Canada
- Board of Trade
- Osgoode Hall
- Asylum for the Insane
- Toronto Central Prison
- Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women
- House of Providence
- Don Jail
- St. Joseph’s – Sunnyside Orphanage
- Railway Lands
- Canadian Pacific Railway – Parkdale Yard
- Northern Railway – Bathurst Yard
- The Grand Trunk Railway Freight Depot
- Grand Trunk Railway – Domed Roundhouse
- Central Fire Station
- 8th General Post Office
- Massey-Harris Company – Toronto Works
- Doty’s Machine and Engine Works
- John Abell Engine and Machine Works
- John Inglis and Sons
- Toronto Silver Plate Company
- Shedden Company Stables
- Toronto Railway – Frederick Stables
- Toronto Railway – car shops
- Toronto Railway – George Stables
- Christie, Brown & Company
- Consumers’ Gas Company – Station A
- Elias Rogers Coal & Wood Co. yard
- Yonge Street Wharf
- Polson Iron Works shipyard
- Bathurst Street Wharf shipyards
- Aykroyd Brothers Boat Works
- John B. Smith & Sons yard
- John B. Smith & Sons
- Greey’s Mill Furnishing Works
- Cobban Manufacturing Company
- E. & C. Gurney Stove Foundry
- Victoria Row
- Eby, Blain & Co. Wholesale Grocers
- Royal Dominion Flour Mills
- Custom House
- Dominion Saw & Lead Works
- Langmuir Manufacturing Company
- Mammoth House
- Don Valley Brick Works
- Government Breakwater
- Queen’s Hotel
- Dingman’s Hall
- Arlington Hotel
- Little York Hotel
- Black Horse Hotel
- Albion Hotel
- Nealon House
- Walker House Hotel
- Palmer House Hotel
- Rossin House Hotel
- Toronto Electric Light Company
- St. Joseph’s Convent
- Loretto Abbey
- Toronto Safe Works
- Toronto Carpet Factory
- Argonaut Rowing Club
- Royal Canadian Yacht Club
- Grand Opera House
- Cyclorama
- H.W. Petrie’s Machine Depot
- Warwick Brothers & Rutter
- Gordon Mackay and Company
- Gooderham Building