Located on the banks of the Arkansas River, Van Buren was founded in 1818, only a year prior to the area being officially recognized as a territory of the United States. The burgeoning community was spurred on by an economy based on supplying steamboats with fuel, and the town was officially incorporated in 1845, taking its name from President Martin Van Buren. Numerous historical buildings continue to bring visitors to the city, and its distinct history and culture were rapidly developing at the time of this publication. The King Opera House was constructed in the late nineteenth century and remains an iconic building in the city's historic downtown. 

This bird's eye perspective was produced and published by Henry Wellge, a prolific cartographer who is credited with the creation of more than half of all panoramic maps held in the Library of Congress's permanent collection. Wellge was active following the conclusion of the American Civil War, and his style would go on to influence map makers and lithographers for decades. His incredibly detailed work and distinctive aesthetic made the form widely popular during the era, and these publications served as marketing materials to attract residents and merchants alike by featuring economic and civic features.

As the nation neared the turn of the twentieth century, towns like Van Buren were experiencing significant prosperity during the so-called Gilded Age as advances in manufacturing started the industrial revolution and technological advances were transforming American life. This is truly a piece of American cartographical history.

Located on the banks of the Arkansas River, Van Buren was founded in 1818, only a year prior to the area being officially recognized as a territory of the United States. The burgeoning community was spurred on by an economy based on supplying steamboats with fuel, and the town was officially incorporated in 1845, taking its name from President Martin Van Buren. Numerous historical buildings continue to bring visitors to the city, and its distinct history and culture were rapidly developing at the time of this publication. The King Opera House was constructed in the late nineteenth century and remains an iconic building in the city's historic downtown. 

This bird's eye perspective was produced and published by Henry Wellge, a prolific cartographer who is credited with the creation of more than half of all panoramic maps held in the Library of Congress's permanent collection. Wellge was active following the conclusion of the American Civil War, and his style would go on to influence map makers and lithographers for decades. His incredibly detailed work and distinctive aesthetic made the form widely popular during the era, and these publications served as marketing materials to attract residents and merchants alike by featuring economic and civic features.

As the nation neared the turn of the twentieth century, towns like Van Buren were experiencing significant prosperity during the so-called Gilded Age as advances in manufacturing started the industrial revolution and technological advances were transforming American life. This is truly a piece of American cartographical history.