Route Maps

 

These files are scans of authentic antique and contemporary "L" maps from throughout the century. Just click on a name to see a large image of the map, cover, or inside booklet pages.

For those users with slower connections or who do not wish to wait for these to download, we offer lower resolution verions of some of our larger map files. Although these are less reabable, they still give a good idea of what the maps look like.

 

1892-1900 | 1900-1925 | 1926-1947 | 1947-1975 | 1975-2001 | 2003


1898

Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad

1898

Cover (196k)
Pamphlet Detail: Route and Rding Information (336k)
Metropolitan Elevated Map (1.5MB) [Low resolution (460k)]
Loop Map (544k)

None


1913

Chicago Elevated Railways

1913

Cover (168k)
System Map (276k)

Issued to announce universal transfers, which took effect November 3, 1913


1925

J.P. Shealy Street Guide

1925

Cover (68k)
System Map (336k)

Map of the Chicago Rapid Transit and North Shore Line systems.

Map shows the Niles Center (Skokie) branch under construction.


1926

Rand McNally & Co.

1926

System Map (280k)

None.


1933 NEW

 

Chicago Rapid Transit

1933

Cover (1.2MB)
Front/System Map (4.2MB)
Back/Service Information (4.8MB)
New "L" Service Direct to World's Fair Gate panel - original (134k)

Depicts the system as it had appeared since 1930, when the Westchester branch reached 22nd/Mannheim.

Published for the Century of Progress (1933-34 World's Fair). The complete back scan includes a pasted update on the New "L" Service Direct to World's Fair Gate pane, adding motor coach service to the fair from State/Van Buren in addition to from Cermak Road. The original panel scan shows what that panel looked like originally, without the patch, listing only bus shuttle service from Cermak.


1933 NEW

Chicago Rapid Transit

1933

Cover (1.1MB)
Front/System Map (4.6MB)
Back/Service Information (5.4MB)

Titled "Travel Map and Guide to Chicago's Attractions", this map edition was also published to coincide with the Century of Progress fair, and included not only information about how to get to the fair but information about points of interest and sightseeing by the "L".


1934

Chicago Rapid Transit

1934

Cover (112k)
Front/System Map (592k)

None.


1935 NEW

Chicago Surface Lines

1935

Cover (270k)
Front/System Map (3MB)
Back/Transfer Information (4.1MB)

Map published by the Chicago Surface Lines company to explain the details of "L"-CSL transfers that were implemented by order of the Illinois Commerce Commission effective September 22, 1935. The map shows both the CSL and "L" systems, but only depicts the "L" stations where transfers can be made. The back includes extensive information about how transfers are issues and used.


1936 NEW

Chicago Rapid Transit

1936

Cover (376k)
Front/System Map (4.7MB)
Back/Transfer Information (5.2MB)

Map published to coincide with the inauguration of transfers between the "L" and the Chicago Motor Coach Company for an experimental period of one year beginning January 19, 1936, in addition to the transfers with CSL initiated in 1935. The map shows the "L", CSL and CMC systems, and denotes transfer stations. The back lists each transfer station and what CSL and CMC services it connects with, along with other details of how the transfers worked.


1938

Chicago Rapid Transit

1938

Cover (196k)
System Map (640k)

None


1942

Chicago Rapid Transit

1942

Cover (56k)
System Map - North Side (708k)
System Map - South Side (616k)
Loop Map (412k)
Pamphlet Detail - Travel Times (72k)
Pamphlet Detail - Transfer Info (64k)

Map has several war bonds advertisements.


1943

Chicago Rapid Transit

1943

Cover (390k)
Front/System Map (945k)
Back/Service Information and Facts About Subway (5.5MB)

Shows a detailed map of the newly-opened State Street Subway in an expanded downtown inset that includes the Near North and Near South Sides. Back includes facts promoting newly opened subway.


1944

Rand McNally Street Guide

1944

Cover (92k)
System Map (468k)
Information page 1 (432k)
Information page 2 (180k)

Includes detailed information on how to ride the elevated, including route descriptions, stopping patterns, and hours of operation. Map shows the newly-opened State Street Subway.


1948 NEW

Chicago Transit Authority

1948

Cover (290k)
CTA System Map (4.4MB)
Back side of map (5.1MB)

First map issued by the CTA; was largely a reprint of the last CRT map with minor changes.


1954

Chicago Transit Authority

1954

Cover (40k)
CTA System Map (1.7MB) [Low resolution (420k)]

None


1957

Chicago Transit Authority

1957

Cover (56k)
CTA System Map (1.2MB) [Low resolution (280k)]

None


1965

Chicago Transit Authority

January 1965

Cover (84k)
"L" System Map (112k)

Skokie Swift: "The Commuter's Friend" was the fourth in a series of progress reports published on the Skokie Swift demonstration project. Map shows the Skokie Swift's relation to the rest of the "L"TM system.

Chicago Transit Authority

1965

Cover (52k)
CTA System Map (1.3MB) [Low resolution (216k)]

None


1970

Chicago Transit Authority

October 1970

Cover (60k)
CTA System Map (1.5MB) [Low resolution (328k)]
"L" System Map (192k)
Train Information: Routes, Fares, etc. (268k)

Includes newly-opened Dan Ryan and Kennedy routes. CTA® system map adopted one- and two-letter abbreviations for routes (i.e. "JH" for Jackson Park-Howard), though it would prove to be short-lived. Note ad for the #40 O'Harexpress bus extension route from Jefferson Park to the airport.


1975

Chicago Transit Authority

May 1975

Cover (72k)
CTA System Map (1.3MB) [Low resolution (336k)]
"L" System Map (176k)
Train Information: Routes, Fares, etc. (268k)

"L"TM system map adopted one- and two-letter abbreviations for routes.


1981

Chicago Transit Authority

Winter-Spring 1981

Cover (56k)
CTA System Map (1.5MB) [Low resolution (336k)]
Downtown Detail (264k)

None


1985

Chicago Transit Authority

1985

Cover (60k)
CTA System Map (1.5MB) [Low resolution (256k)]
Downtown Detail (228k)

Map includes the new O'Hare extension and was the first to color-code the lines (although color names for the lines would not be adopted until 1993). "A" and "B" stations are no longer represented be triangles and squares; all stops are represented by circles.


1991

Chicago Transit Authority

March 1991

Cover (76k)
CTA System Map (includes downtown inset, route information, and more) (2.3MB) [Low resolution (376k)]
Pamphlet Detail: Accessible Services (100k)

First map issued after the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, outlining CTA's® accessible services on the rail and bus systems (see detail above).


1995

Chicago Transit Authority

July 1995

Cover (80k)
CTA System Map (1.2MB) [Low resolution (224k)]
Downtown Detail (268k)
"L" System Map (188k)
Train Information: Routes, Fares, etc. (408k)

Green Line appears on the map only as a dashed line, as it is closed for renovation.


1997

Chicago Transit Authority

January 1997

Cover (72k)
CTA System Map (1.2MB) [Low resolution (224k)]
Downtown Detail (296k)
"L" System Map (176k)
Train Information: Routes, Fares, Service Changes, etc. (272k)

None


1999

Chicago Transit Authority

Spring-Summer (March) 1999

Cover (84k)
CTA System Map (1.3MB) [Low resolution (252k)]
Downtown Detail (364k)
"L" System Map (180k)
Train Information: Routes, Fares, etc. (248k)

None


2000

Regional Transportation Authority

2000

Cover (171k)
Six-County Regional System Map (1.4MB) [Low resolution (323k)]
Chicago System Map (1.5MB) [Low resolution (331k)]
Chicago Downtown Detail (636k)

None


2001

Chicago Transit Authority

Summer (May) 2001

Cover (64k)
CTA System Map (1.1MB) [Low resolution (156k)]
Downtown Detail (448k)
"L" System Map (300k)

None


2003

Chicago Transit Authority

Fall (September) 2003

Cover (111k)
CTA System Map (2.1MB) [Low resolution (137k)]
Downtown Detail (691k)
"L" System Map (250k)
Train Information: Routes, Fares, etc. (636k)

Includes revised lakefront express bus routes, revised Evanston bus routes, and the first new, accessible Douglas stations (54/Cermak and Kostner)