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 150 past and present Toronto landmarks!
I particularly like this map for several reasons:
- 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
- Cathedral Church of St. James
- Knox Church
- Metropolitan Wesleyan Methodist Church
- Elm Street Methodist Church
- Union Station
- New Market House
- Drill Shed
- City Hall Station
- Canada Life Assurance Company
- The Grand Trunk Railway Freight Depot
- William Davies Company pork packing plant
- Western Cattle Market
- Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory
- Stewart Building
- Trinity College
- Upper Canada College – Russell Square campus
- Upper Canada College – Deer Park campus
- Crystal Palace
- Ontario Parliament Building
- Government House
- Toronto Armories
- T. Eaton Company
- The Mail Building
- Board of Trade
- Canadian Bank of Commerce
- Molsons Bank
- Asylum for the Insane
- Toronto Central Prison
- Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women
- House of Providence
- Don Jail
- Railway Lands
- Canadian Pacific Railway – Parkdale Yard
- Northern Railway – Bathurst Yard
- Grand Trunk Railway Domed Roundhouse
- 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
- Elias Rogers Coal & Wood Co. yard
- Yonge Street Wharf
- Polson Iron Works shipyard
- John B. Smith & Sons yard
- John B. Smith & Sons
- Stanley Barracks – Officers’ Quarters
- Queen’s Hotel
- Greey’s Mill Furnishing Works
- Cobban Manufacturing Company
- E. & C. Gurney Stove Foundry
- Central Fire Station
- Victoria Row
- Eby, Blain & Co. Wholesale Grocers
- Dingman’s Hall
- Cyclorama
- Toronto Brewing and Malting Co.
- Royal Dominion Flour Mills
- Custom House
- Dominion Saw & Lead Works
- Langmuir Manufacturing Company
- Mammoth House
- Beverley Street Baptist Church
- Zion Congregational Church
- Erskine Presbyterian Church
- St. Margaret’s Church
- Government Breakwater
- Loretto Abbey
- 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
- Wykeham Hall
- St. Joseph’s Convent
- Gooderham & Worts – Grain Elevator
- Toronto Safe Works
- Toronto Carpet Factory
- Argonaut Rowing Club
- Royal Canadian Yacht Club
- Aykroyd Brothers Boat Works
- Bathurst Street Wharf shipyards
- Grand Opera House
- H.W. Petrie’s Machine Depot
- Warwick Brothers & Rutter
- Gordon Mackay and Company
- Gooderham Building
- Little Trinity Anglican Church
- Church of the Ascension
- 8th General Post Office
- Traders Bank of Canada