New Orleans, Louisiana – 1845 Norman’s Plan of New Orleans & Environs

New Orleans, Louisiana – 1845 Norman’s Plan of New Orleans & Environs

Explore New Orleans at the height of its mid-19th-century expansion with this authoritative 1845 city plan by Benjamin Moore Norman. This detailed map documents the city and its surrounding environs as New Orleans emerged as one of the most important commercial ports in the United States.

Historical Context

By the 1840s, New Orleans had become the economic engine of the Mississippi Valley. Cotton, sugar, and global trade flowed through its wharves, while railroads and canals extended its influence inland. Benjamin Moore Norman, a prominent New Orleans publisher and chronicler of the city, produced this plan to capture the rapidly growing urban landscape during a period of unprecedented prosperity. The map reflects a city transitioning from its colonial roots into a structured American metropolis shaped by commerce, transportation, and municipal organization.

The Map’s Features

This carefully engraved city plan presents New Orleans with exceptional urban detail, including:

• A dense street grid divided into municipalities

• The sweeping curve of the Mississippi River

• Wharves, levees, and riverfront infrastructure

• Residential, commercial, and civic districts

• Surrounding neighborhoods and developing suburbs

• Clear labeling and color accents distinguishing urban zones

Norman’s plan balances precision with readability, making it both a practical reference and a striking visual document.

Historical Significance

Norman’s 1845 plan stands as one of the definitive maps of antebellum New Orleans. It captures the city at its commercial peak before the disruptions of the Civil War, preserving the infrastructure and organization that made New Orleans the gateway to the American interior. For collectors, it represents a cornerstone document of Southern urban history.

Museum-Quality Reproduction

This is a high-quality reproduction of the original city map, professionally printed using museum-grade methods and materials to preserve every detail of this historic document. Each piece is produced on archival Hahnemühle paper using the Giclée printing process, ensuring exceptional clarity, durability, and a refined finish suitable for display in any setting.

Perfect For

• New Orleans and Southern history enthusiasts

• Urban planning and architecture fans

• Collectors of 19th-century American maps

• Offices, libraries, and refined interiors

• Gifts for Louisiana residents and historians

• Displays highlighting American port cities

Specifications

• Original Publication: 1845

• Cartographer: Benjamin Moore Norman

• Style: Mid-19th-century engraved city plan

• Features: Street grid, municipalities, riverfront infrastructure, neighborhoods, surrounding environs

• Product Type: High-Quality Reproduction Print

• Scale: Not specified

• Dimensions (Width x Height): 28.9 x 21.7

Each map is printed using the finest materials and methods. Your map will be handled with white gloves from start to finish. We use the Giclée printing method on Hahnemühle paper, which produces a clear, extremely detailed, durable map perfect for proud display in your home or office.

Digital watermark does not appear on your purchased map.