Antique maps and prints of historic Oregon.
This short
REFERENCE PAGE is designed to provide no more than a 'glimpse' of
the history of the State,
with a couple of examples of antiquarian maps and engravings and some interesting Links.
This Page is provided as a REFERENCE
RESOURCE - it is NOT an Inventory.
Genuine original antiquarian maps and
authentic historical engravings, printed at the dates stated.
We do NOT deal in modern reproductions.
We supply genuine
historical maps and prints by mail order - all are eminently suitable for framing and
are offered On Approval, which
GUARANTEES
YOUR ENTIRE SATISFACTION!
Look us over, but don't
overlook us.
STATE OF OREGON
The article below was written in 1885 and makes interesting reading.
Topography: The Cascade mountains, which cross the State from north to south, dividing Oregon into two unequal parts, known as Eastern and Western Oregon, range from 4,000 to 10,000 feet in height, reaching the region of perpetual snow.
The principal peaks are Mt. Hood, 11,225 feet; Mt. Jefferson, 10,200 feet; the Three Sisters and Diamond Peak, each 9,420 feet; and Mt. McLaughlin, 11,000 feet.
The Coast range runs parallel with the ocean, at a distance from it of about twenty-five miles, the, general altitude varying from 1,000 to 4,000 feet. Each of the great ranges throws out spurs, and the eastern division is broken by the Blue mountains, which run northeast and southwest, and have an average altitude of from 5,000 to 7,000 feet.
The valleys are deep and irregular, and in many places the rivers cut their way through romantic cañons of great depth. The principal accessible harbors are the mouths of the Columbia and Rogue rivers, and Tillamook Bay and Port Orford.
The State has an average length east and west of about 360 miles; a breadth of 260 miles; and an area of 96,030 square miles, or 61,459,200 acres. The State has many streams, especially in the western half, but few of them are navigable. The Columbia rises in the Rocky Mountains, in latitude 50° 20', and is navigable for ships 115 miles from the sea, and for steamers 165 miles. It is, a rapid stream, and receives nearly all the rivers of Oregon.
The Columbia is 1,300 miles in length, and forms the State boundary for about 300 miles. Its numerous cascades, cañons, narrows and rapids enhance the beauty of the scenery along this stream.
The Rogue river, in Southern Oregon, and the Umpqua, which flows through the valley of the same name, both take their rise in the Cascade mountains and empty into the Pacific. Most of the lakes, of which there are a large number, are situated in Grant and Jackson counties.
Climate: The climates of the two divisions differ widely, that of the western half being moist and equable, while the east never has an excess of rain, and though somewhat subject to extremes of temperature, the climate is usually pleasant.
The summers of the eastern half are dry, there being little rain and less dew, but the crops do not suffer from drought. The mean temperature at The Dalles is, in spring, 53º; in summer, 70.5º; in autumn, 52º; and in winter, 35.5º Fahrenheit; and the rainfall does not exceed eighteen or twenty inches annually.
It is very different in Western Oregon, the annual rainfall at Astoria being sixty inches. Snow and ice are here unknown, but on the mountains and elevated table lands frosts are frequent, and the higher peaks wear their snowy, crowns the year through.
The mean annual temperature at Astoria is 52º; that of spring, 51º; summer, 61.5º; autumn, 54º; winter, 42.5º, Fahrenheit.
History: Though various navigator's had previously sailed along the coast, the credit of the discovery of Oregon is generally given to Capt. Robt. Gray, of Boston, who, in 1792, brought his ship, the Columbia, to anchor in the mouth of a large river, to which he gave the name of his vessel.
The Pacific fur company established a trading post at Astoria in 1811, and the Northwest and Hudson' s Bay companies kept many trappers and traders in Oregon up to the time of its admission into the Union as a State, in 1859.
By the treaty of 1818, the provisions of which were continued in 1827, the whole of the Pacific coast territory from latitude 42º to 54º 40' north was jointly occupied by Great Britain and the United States, and to this vast region the name of Oregon was applied.
The Canadians employed by the Hudson's Bay company formed the main body of the white population for a long time, but between 1833 and 1850 there was a considerable immigration from the United States.
The difficulties threatened by the conflicting claims of the United States and Great Britain to the possession of this territory were averted by a compromise, by which the forty-ninth parallel became the dividing line, Great Britain retaining Vancouver's Island. Oregon was organized as a Territory Aug. 14, 1848.
Four years later, what was known as the "District of Vancouver" was set off to form Washington Territory, the dividing line being the forty-sixth parallel and the Columbia river.
The eastern part of the Territory now known as Idaho was added to Washington Territory in 1859. A State constitution was adopted in 1857, and in 1859 Oregon with its present limits was admitted into the Union. The first trouble with the natives was in 1844, when they murdered several persons in Oregon City; and in 1847 seventeen persons were massacred by the Cayuse Indians.
Prompt justice was dealt out to the murderers, and quiet reigned until 1854, when the Rogue River war broke out. In 1873 occurred the Modoc war, after which the settlements remained undisturbed until 1876, when there was some more desultory warfare on the frontier.
Population: Census of 1880: Males, 103,381; Females, 71,387; Native, 144,265; Foreign, 30,503; White, 163,075; Colored, 11,693, including 9,510 Chinese, 2 Japanese and 1,694 Indians and Half-breeds.
VIEW OF OREGON
Published by BARTLETT in 1838
Click on image to view a larger version
ANTIQUARIAN MAP OF OREGON.
Published by Cram 1902.
Overall size is 15x11 inches. ORIGINAL COLOURING
Click on image to view a larger version
INTERESTING LINKS
OTHER POSTAPRINT US STATES FEATURE PAGES
Cities, Counties and Regions, Metropolitan areas.
Contributions and suggestions for additional links would be most welcome.
Before I retired,
Postaprint supplied picture framers and antiquarian map & print dealers
for over 25 years. The inventory
encompassed examples of the
cartographer's art from the 16th to the 19th century, along with
topographical engravings, lithographs and etchings by
leading artists of their generation. You can Search
my wife's eBay Store Database for historic maps,
views, and engravings on virtually every subject,
including Vanity Fair (Spy) Cartoons. All our offers are genuine
old and historical items on a wide range of subjects.
All are
suitable for framing by Art Galleries, Shops and Fine Art Retailers.
Do visit my wife's eBay Store
SOME INTERESTING & UNUSUAL GIFT IDEAS FROM JULIE
DO VISIT MY EBAY SHOP
FOR UNUSUAL IDEAS FOR PRESENTS
Perhaps a map or print of somewhere important in
someone's life. For example, where
they were born, got married, went on honeymoon etc. I do have a wide selection
of topographical views and historical maps.
America's,
UK,
Europe,
Asia,
Africa,
Australia,
The World, Etc.
...Or do a search for their last name, you will be surprised
what you might discover!
