Bird's Eye Views of the Croton Aqueduct, 1879-1887

This post examines two historical perspective maps depicting New York City's water infrastructure during a critical period of urban expansion.

Will L. Taylor created a four-sheet engraving published by Galt & Hoy showing Manhattan from an elevated viewpoint. This was "the first true attempt at a perspective map of the city" and "a stunning achievement for the time." The detailed map displays all three major components of the Old Croton Aqueduct system: High Bridge and its water tower, the Receiving Reservoir in Central Park, and the Distributing Reservoir at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street (now the New York Public Library site).

A complementary bird's-eye view appeared on the June 4, 1887 cover of Scientific American. This southern-looking map illustrated the course of the Croton River, showing locations of three dams: Muscoot, Croton, and the proposed Quaker Bridge Dam. The map contrasted the old aqueduct (dotted line) with the new tunnel route (solid line). At publication, the New Croton Aqueduct tunnel remained three years from completion.