Middle West Collection

Union Stockyards entrance, Chicago, 1890s
Entrance to the Union Stockyards, Chicago, 1890s. Albertype reproduction of a photograph

Chicagos State Street, 1890s
Marshall Field & Co. retail store on State Street, downtown Chicago, 1890s. Albertype reproduction of a photograph

Fort Dearborn, on the site of Chicago
Fort Dearborn in 1803, on the south side of the Chicago River. Hand-colored halftone reproduction of an illustration

Republican Party birthplace, Ripon, Wisconsin
Little White Schoolhouse, the birthplace of the Republican Party, Ripon, Wisconsin. Photograph

Fort Dearborn on the Chicago River, 1812
Fort Dearborn on the site of present-day Chicago, 1812. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Mississippi River and the city of Minneapolis, 1870s
Minneapolis, village of St. Anthony, and St. Anthonys Falls on the Mississippi River, Minnesota, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

St. Louis on the Mississippi River, 1870s
Steamboat traffic on the Mississippi River at St. Louis, Missouri, 1870s. Hand-colored engraving of a 19th-century illustration

Railroad land for sale in Iowa and Minnesota
Farmland in Minnesota and Iowa for sale by the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad Company, 1870s. Handset type advertisement with a watercolor wash

Wichita, Kansas, 1870s
Main street in Wichita, Kansas, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Danish immigrant homestead, Old World Wisconsin
Pedersen Farm, homestead of Danish immigrants preserved at Old World Wisconsin, Eagle, Wisconsin. Photograph

Christmas with Poor Jack at the Seamens Hospital (Late Dreadnought), Greenwich (engraving)
1106115 Christmas with Poor Jack at the Seamens Hospital (Late Dreadnought), Greenwich (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Engagement between the Count of Barcelona Ramon Berenguer IV and Petronilla of Aragon who is 2 years old, in 1137, colored engraving

State capitol in Springfield, Illinois, 1850s
Illinois State House In Springfield, 1850s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Stores on Wabash Avenue, Chicago, 1890s
Bretanos and other retail shops on Wabash Avenue south of Monroe Street, Chicago, 1890s. Albertype reproduction of a photograph

Chicago street downtown in the 1890s
Streetcar on State Street north of the Palmer House, Chicago, 1890s. Albertype reproduction of a photograph

Dearborn Avenue, Chicago, 1890s
Chicagos Dearborn Avenue north of Chestnut Street: Newberry Library, Unity Church, and New England Congregational Church (left-right), 1890s. Albertype reproduction of a photograph

Chicago lumber wharves, 1880s
Lumber district of Chicago, viewed from the West Side Waterworks, 1880s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Downtown Indianapolis, 1870s
Washington Street, looking west from Meriden Street, Indianapolis, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Ohio River at New Albany, Indiana, 1870s
New Albany, Indiana, viewed from the Ohio River, about 1870. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

State capitol of Indiana, 1850s
Indiana state capitol, Indianapolis, 1850s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Chicago grain elevators loading ships, 1870s
Grain loaded in Chicago on ships bound for the Erie Canal, 1870s. Hand colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Downtown Chicago, 1850s
Randolph Street, Chicago, in the 1850s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

City of Chicago in 1860
Overview of Chicago, looking west from Lake Michigan, 1860. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Busy street in downtown Chicago, 1890s
Wabash Avenue at the corner of Madison Street, downtown Chicago, 1890s. Albertype reproduction of a photograph

Pioneers moving west, early 1800s
Pioneers emigrating to the Mississippi Valley, early 1800s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century Darley illustration

French colonists in Illinois
Festivities of early French settlers in Illinois. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Cattle loaded on the railroad at Abilene, Kansas, 1870s
Loading Texas cattle on the Union Pacific Railway at Abilene, Kansas, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Chicago River, 1890s
Docks along the Chicago River east of State Street Bridge, 1890s. Albertype reproduction of a photograph

Chicagos Michigan Avenue, 1890s
Leland Hotel on Michgan Avenue, Chicago, 1890 s. Albertype reproduction of a photograph

Chicagos Palmer House, 1890s
The Palmer House on the corner of State and Monroe streets, Chicago, 1890s. Albertype reproduction of a photograph

Union Stockyards, Chicago, 1890s
Cattle pens at the Union Stockyards, Chicago, 1890s. Albertype reproduction of a photograph

First steel-framed skyscraper, Chicago, 1890s
Home Insurance Building on LaSalle and Adams streets, Chicago, 1890s. Albertype reproduction of a photograph

Steamboats on the Mississippi at St. Louis, Missouri
City of St. Louis from the Mississippi River, 1850s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Choteaus Pond, Missouri, 1820s
Settlement on Choteaus Pond, now part of St Louis, Missouri. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Omaha, Nebraska, 1860s
Omaha, Nebraska, as seen from the old State Capitol, 1860s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

USIL2P-00012
Grand Pacific Hotel in Chicago, 1890 s. Albertype reproduction of a photograph

Norwegian immigrant homestead, Old World Wisconsin
Kvaale Farm dairy shed of Norwegian immigrants, Old World Wisconsin restored to its 1865 appearance. Photograph

Settlement of Indianapolis, 1820
First settlers cabin in Indianapolis, Indiana, 1820. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Pharmacy at Fort Howard, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Pharmacy at Fort Howard, US Army outpost on the Wisconsin frontier in the early 1800s, Heritage Hill, Green Bay. Photograph

Treaty with the Pottawattomies at Fort Dearborn, 1833
Pottawattomies agreeing to a treaty at Fort Dearborn, Chicago, 1833. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Wisconsin farm of Belgian immigrants, 1800s
Belgian immigrants farm and windmill, Heritage Hill, Green Bay, Wisconsin. Photograph

Mallards over the Wolf River, Wisconsin
Wild ducks in morning fog flying over Post Lake on the Wolf River, Wisconsin. Photograph

Wisconsin state capitol at Madison, 1851
New state capitol building at Madison, Wisconsin, 1851. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1870s
Downtown Milwaukee looking west from the waterfront of Lake Michigan, 1870s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Fort Howard, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Fort Howard, US Army outpost on the Wisconsin frontier in the early 1800s, Heritage Hill, Green Bay. Photograph

Norwegian immigrant homestead, Old World Wisconsin
Norwegian immigrant farm woman reenactor spinning wool in the Kvaale House, built circa 1848, at Old World Wisconsin, Eagle WI. Digital photograph

Wisconsin River junction with the Mississippi
Wisconsin River joining the Mississippi River, first explored by Marquette and Joliet, 1673. Photograph

Wisconsin River near its Mississippi River junction
Wisconsin River, seen from bluffs near its junction with the Mississippi River, first taken by Marquette and Joliet in 1673. Photograph

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The Middle West: A Tapestry of History and Progress Step back in time to the 1890s, where the bustling streets of Chicago come alive with stories from the heartland. The Union Stockyards entrance stands tall, a symbol of the region's thriving livestock industry that fueled its growth. Meanwhile, State Street teems with energy as shoppers flock to its vibrant stores, capturing the essence of a city on the rise. Venture further into history and witness Fort Dearborn's humble beginnings on the very site where Chicago now thrives. It was here that pioneers laid their foundations, shaping a future for generations to come. Just miles away in Ripon, Wisconsin lies another significant birthplace - that of the Republican Party itself. This small town holds immense political significance as it gave birth to an ideology that would shape American politics forever. Traveling back even further in time reveals Fort Dearborn's presence along the majestic Chicago River in 1812. Amidst uncertainty and conflict, this fort stood as a testament to resilience and determination. Across state lines lies Minneapolis, nestled alongside the mighty Mississippi River in the 1870s. Here we find a city blossoming with promise and progress; its skyline reflecting dreams realized through hard work. Further south along this iconic river lies St. Louis - an emblematic metropolis also flourishing during this era. Its grandeur mirrored by steamboats navigating these waters epitomizes both commerce and adventure intertwined within America's heartland. As railroads crisscrossed Iowa and Minnesota during those years, vast lands were put up for sale – promising opportunities for settlers seeking new horizons amidst sweeping landscapes waiting to be tamed. In Wichita, Kansas during this same period, echoes of ambition reverberate through dusty streets filled with pioneers chasing dreams under endless skies – embodying both perseverance and hope against all odds. Meanwhile at Old World Wisconsin’s Danish immigrant homesteads stand proud reminders of the diverse tapestry that shaped the Middle West.