Stanford University Libraries just launched the Rumsey Collection, a historic archive of thousands of maps. Here’s the coolest map of Philadelphia I found in the archive.
Some details I enjoyed…
Apparently there was a water works at the central square? (Then called the “Public Square”.)
![](https://i1.wp.com/davisshaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2017-05-15-at-6.09.29-AM.png?resize=314%2C296)
The Navy Yard was quite literally a yard owned by the Navy.
![](https://i1.wp.com/davisshaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2017-05-15-at-6.09.41-AM.png?resize=642%2C290)
Detail of Pegg’s Run, a long-hidden creek that in fact shaped much geography of my neighborhood, Callowhill. I’m hoping to write about Pegg’s Run more in the future.
![](https://i2.wp.com/davisshaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2017-05-15-at-6.10.20-AM.png?resize=1018%2C476)
This one confuses me. Washington Square and Market Square… in West Philly? What’s that oval?
![](https://i2.wp.com/davisshaver.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Screen-Shot-2017-05-15-at-6.11.02-AM.png?resize=742%2C624)