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 400 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
- First Parliament site
- 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 Anglican Church
- Little Trinity Anglican Church
- Church of the Ascension
- Fort York
- Stanley Barracks – Officers’ Quarters
- Toronto Armories
- Drill Shed
- Asylum for the Insane
- Toronto Central Prison
- Don Jail
- Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women
- House of Providence
- St. Joseph’s – Sunnyside Orphanage
- Central Fire Station
- 4th General Post Office
- 8th General Post Office
- Custom House
- Government Breakwater
- Consumers’ Gas Company – Station A
- Toronto Electric Light Company
- St. Lawrence Hall
- St. Lawrence Market North
- New Market House
- Gooderham & Worts – Distillery District
- Gooderham & Worts – Grain Elevator
- Gooderham Building
- Toronto Brewing and Malting Co.
- 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
- Scadding Cabin
- Fort Rouillé Monument
- Woodbine Race Course
- Sunlight Park
- Argonaut Rowing Club
- Royal Canadian Yacht Club
- Grand Opera House
- Cyclorama
- Humber River
- High Park
- Allan Gardens
- Original Town of York
- The Ward
- Kensington
- Baby Point
- T. Eaton Company
- Mammoth House
- Gordon Mackay and Company
- The Mail Building
- Confederation Life Building
- Canada Life Assurance Company
- Bank of Upper Canada
- Canadian Bank of Commerce
- Molsons Bank
- Traders Bank of Canada
- Board of Trade
- Osgoode Hall
- St. Joseph’s Convent
- Loretto Abbey
- Union Station
- City Hall Station
- Railway Lands
- Canadian Pacific Railway – Parkdale Yard
- Northern Railway – Bathurst Yard
- The Grand Trunk Railway Freight Depot
- Grand Trunk Railway – Domed Roundhouse
- Toronto Railway – Frederick Stables
- Toronto Railway – car shops
- Toronto Railway – George Stables
- Shedden Company Stables
- Elias Rogers Coal & Wood Co. yard
- 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
- Christie, Brown & Company
- 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
- Eby, Blain & Co. Wholesale Grocers
- Royal Dominion Flour Mills
- Victoria Square
- Dominion Saw & Lead Works
- Langmuir Manufacturing Company
- Don Valley Brick Works
- Pape Avenue Cemetery
- 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
- Black Bull Tavern
- Toronto Safe Works
- Toronto Carpet Factory
- H.W. Petrie’s Machine Depot
- Warwick Brothers & Rutter
- Victoria Row
- Daniel Brooke Building
- Thomas Thompson Building
- The Grange
- Campbell House
- Spadina House