Panoramic View of the West Bottoms (Large)

Panoramic View of the West Bottoms
Inventory
Collection Number: 
17159
Building: 
Current Location: 
H&R Block Business & Career Center
Floor: 
3rd
Object Description
Artist: 
Artist Dates: 
1834 -1901
Artist Nationality: 
German
Object Type: 
Details: 
This map is a reproduction of a colored pen and ink lithograph of Kansas City's historic West Bottoms. The map is situated on an alphanumerical grid with a corresponding legend.
Framed: 
Yes
 - Plexi
Length: 
59 inches
Width: 
1 inches
Height: 
40 inches
Description: 

This large map depicts a "bird's eye" panoramic view of Kansas City's West Bottoms, namely the stockyards, packing, and wholesale houses. While being informational, the map also conveys the vitality of this district in the early history of the city emphasizing the West Bottoms as a confluence point of trade and commerce. Each street, building, and railroad track appears accounted for with minute detail and accuracy. Starting in the late 19th century, "bird's eye" was a popular point of view to render cities despite air travel not being possible. Because of this, maps drawn from above were considered a novelty and a high cartographic craft especially when one considers the imagination and devotion to detail required to create such a scene.

Reproduce the Work in Library publications/publicity, including film or videotape: 
Yes
Make slides or videotapes for educational use: 
Yes
Permit the general public to photograph the work : 
Yes