Spokane Falls , 1890
Of greatest historical interest today are the sprawling exposition grounds near the top right . In 1890 , when the city was still rebuilding from a devastating fire , local business leaders agreed to build an impressive venue for the upcoming fair , with which they hoped to draw tourists from all over the country . The main building almost wasn ’ t finished in time because the contractors went on strike , and the rest of the work had to be done by volunteers . The next year , the city bought the property for $ 75,000 , to use as a venue for future expositions . While it stood , the Exposition Building was one of the most prominent structures in Spokane , but in 1893 it burned to the ground and was never replaced .
They really knew how to make maps entertaining in the late 19th century . In 1896 , the Northern Pacific Railway attracted eastern tourists to the Northwest with a delightful map showing their route as the back of a hunting dog , with its tail in Duluth and its nose touching Seattle . Note the Canadian district of “ Assiniboia .” In 1905 , the eastern border of Alberta was moved a few degrees eastward , and Assiniboia , along with the
district on its northern border , became the new province of Saskatchewan .
Maps don ’ t have to be serious to be useful . From 1933 to 1955 , Hjalmer “ Jolly ” Lindgren and his brother Otto became a big success in Spokane with their “ hysterical maps .” They were cartographically accurate but gently irreverent . One of their first was a map of the Spokane area , with such notes as “ This region is unknown as we have had no good reason for going over here .” Another note says , “ Up this way lies Moran Prairie … but who cares ?”
“ Jolly ” did the drawings for “ hysterical maps ,” which were printed , with their own silk-screen process , as postcards and decals for tourist spots all over the country . Most were in bright colors , but in 1946 they printed a black and white map for Washington State College ( now University ) in Pullman , with such mildly satirical comments as “ This area is lousy with Greeks ” and “ Point to remember : this land was here long before the college was built .”
The Northwest was here before it was mapped , as well , but it took ink , colors , and “ legends ” to show the world its true glory .
54 ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE