Map of California, 1892

After serving in the U.S. Army under the Union forces during the American Civil War, Cram joined his Uncle Rufus Blanchard’s Evanston Map business in 1867. Shortly after, he became the sole proprietor of the firm, renaming it to George F. Cram Co. With a company history expanding over 130 years, it became the leading map firm as well as the first American firm to publish a world atlas. The 19^th century publications include: Unrivaled Family Atlas (1883), Illustrated Atlas (1885), Unrivaled Atlas (1887), American Railway System Atlas (1891), and the Universal Atlas(1894).

This fine map of California show the region of the late 19^th century as California is developing into a defined state. The constant growth of the railroad system and the birth of the cross-bay transit from the newly established Ferry Building in San Francisco, provided California with an elaborate business infrastructure and impressive array of manufacturers.