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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.
Metropolitan West Side Elevated
         Railroad 1898 
         Cover
         (196k) None
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         Pamphlet
         Detail: Route and Rding Information
         (336k)
         
         Metropolitan
         Elevated Map
         (1.5MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (460k)]
         
         Loop
         Map (544k)
          
      
          
   
1913
Chicago Elevated Railways 1913 
         Cover
         (168k) Issued to announce universal
         transfers, which took effect November 3, 1913
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         System
         Map (276k)
          
      
          
   
1925
J.P. Shealy Street Guide 1925 
         Cover
         (68k) Map of the Chicago Rapid Transit and
         North Shore Line systems. Map shows the Niles Center (Skokie)
         branch under construction.
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         System
         Map (336k)
          
      
          
   
1926
Rand McNally & Co. 1926  System
        Map (280k) None.
   
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
 
 
1933 NEW
|   | 
 | Chicago Rapid Transit | 
| 
 | 1933 | |
| 
 |  Cover (1.2MB) | |
| 
 | 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. | 
Chicago Rapid Transit 1933  Cover (1.1MB) 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".
   
	   
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
              Front/System
        Map (4.6MB)
         Back/Service Information (5.4MB) 
          
      
          
   
1934
Chicago Rapid Transit 1934  Cover (112k) None.
   
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
              Front/System
        Map (592k)
          
      
          
   
1935 NEW
Chicago Surface Lines 1935  Cover (270k) 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. Chicago Rapid Transit 1936  Cover (376k) 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.
 Chicago Rapid Transit 1938 
         Cover
         (196k) None Chicago Rapid Transit 1942 
         Cover
         (56k) Map has several war bonds
         advertisements. Chicago Rapid Transit 1943 
			 Cover 
         (390k) 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. Rand McNally Street Guide 1944 
         Cover
         (92k) 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. Chicago Transit Authority 1948 
         Cover (290k) First map issued by the CTA; was largely a reprint of the last CRT map with minor changes. 
 Chicago Transit Authority 1954  Cover (40k) None Chicago Transit Authority 1957 
         Cover
         (56k) None Chicago Transit Authority January 1965 
         Cover
         (84k) 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) None Chicago Transit Authority October 1970 
         Cover
         (60k) 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. Chicago Transit Authority May 1975 
         Cover
         (72k) "L"TM
         system map adopted one- and
         two-letter abbreviations for routes. Chicago Transit Authority Winter-Spring 1981 
         Cover
         (56k) None Chicago Transit Authority 1985 
         Cover
         (60k) 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. Chicago Transit Authority March 1991 
         Cover
         (76k) 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). Chicago Transit Authority July 1995 
         Cover
         (80k) Green Line appears on the map only as
         a dashed line, as it is closed for renovation. Chicago Transit Authority January 1997 
         Cover
         (72k) None Chicago Transit Authority Spring-Summer (March) 1999 
         Cover
         (84k) None Regional Transportation
         Authority 2000 
         Cover
         (171k) None Chicago Transit Authority Summer (May) 2001 
         Cover
         (64k) None Chicago Transit Authority Fall (September) 2003 
         Cover
         (111k) Includes revised lakefront express bus
         routes, revised Evanston bus routes, and the first new,
         accessible Douglas stations (54/Cermak and
         Kostner)
   
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
              Front/System
        Map (3MB)
         Back/Transfer Information (4.1MB) 
          
      
          
   
1936 NEW
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
              Front/System
        Map (4.7MB)
         Back/Transfer Information (5.2MB) 
          
      
       
   
1938
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         System
         Map (640k)
          
      
          
   
1942
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         System
         Map - North Side (708k)
         
         System
         Map - South Side (616k)
         
         Loop
         Map (412k)
         
         Pamphlet
         Detail - Travel Times
         (72k)
         
         Pamphlet
         Detail - Transfer Info
         (64k)
          
      
          
   
1943
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
         
   
          Front/System
         Map (945k)
         Back/Service Information and Facts About Subway (5.5MB) 
          
      
          
   
1944
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         System
         Map (468k)
         
         Information
         page 1 (432k)
         
         Information
         page 2 (180k)
          
      
          
   
1948 NEW
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
		   
   
          
      
          
   
         
         CTA
                 System Map (4.4MB)
                  Back side of map (5.1MB)         
                 
          
      
          
   
1954
  
     
   
    
     
  
     
  
       CTA
        System Map (1.7MB) [Low
          resolution (420k)]
     

1957
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         CTA
         System Map
         (1.2MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (280k)]
          
      
          
   
1965
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         "L"
         System Map (112k)
          
      
          
   
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         CTA
         System Map
         (1.3MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (216k)]
          
      
          
   
1970
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         CTA
         System Map
         (1.5MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (328k)]
         
         "L"
         System Map (192k)
         
         Train
         Information: Routes, Fares, etc.
         (268k)
          
      
          
   
1975
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         CTA
         System Map
         (1.3MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (336k)]
         
         "L"
         System Map (176k)
         
         Train
         Information: Routes, Fares, etc.
         (268k)
          
      
          
   
1981
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         CTA
         System Map
         (1.5MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (336k)]
         
         Downtown
         Detail (264k)
          
      
          
   
1985
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         CTA
         System Map
         (1.5MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (256k)]
         
         Downtown
         Detail (228k)
          
      
          
   
1991
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         CTA
         System Map (includes downtown
         inset, route information, and more)
         (2.3MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (376k)]
         
         Pamphlet
         Detail: Accessible Services
         (100k)
          
      
          
   
1995
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         CTA
         System Map
         (1.2MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (224k)]
         
         Downtown
         Detail (268k)
         
         "L"
         System Map (188k)
         
         Train
         Information: Routes, Fares, etc.
         (408k)
          
      
          
   
1997
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         CTA
         System Map
         (1.2MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (224k)]
         
         Downtown
         Detail (296k)
         
         "L"
         System Map (176k)
         
         Train
         Information: Routes, Fares, Service Changes,
         etc. (272k)
          
      
          
   
1999
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         CTA
         System Map
         (1.3MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (252k)]
         
         Downtown
         Detail (364k)
         
         "L"
         System Map (180k)
         
         Train
         Information: Routes, Fares, etc.
         (248k)
          
      
          
   
2000
   
  
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         Six-County
         Regional System Map
         (1.4MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (323k)]
         
         Chicago
         System Map
         (1.5MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (331k)]
         
         Chicago
         Downtown Detail
         (636k)
          
      
          
   
2001
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         CTA
         System Map
         (1.1MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (156k)]
         
         Downtown
         Detail (448k)
         
         "L"
         System Map (300k)
          
      
          
   
2003
   
 
       
   
          
      
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
          
      
          
   
         
         CTA
         System Map
         (2.1MB)
         [Low
         resolution
         (137k)]
         
         Downtown
         Detail (691k)
         
         "L"
         System Map (250k)
         
         Train
         Information: Routes, Fares, etc.
         (636k)
          
      
          
   
   
       
         
       
      
          
   