Historic Newspapers: Railroad History
NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, Feb. 23, 1828
* Death report of Choctaw Chief Hummingbird
* Death report of New York Governor DeWitt Clinton
* B & O Railroad expands to include Pittsburgh,… more
* Santa Anna
* James F. Cooper
* Early 19th century original reading
On the front page at the bottom of the last column is a Proclamation by
NILES' WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, October 17, 1829 This 16 page newspaper has interesting news of the day throughout. A lot of the news in this newspaper is government related. Featured in this… more
NATIONAL GAZETTE AND LITERARY REGISTER, Philadelphia, January 23, 1830 Page 4 features an article entitled "The Rail Road" which reports "The Rail road from Pratt street to the Carrollton Viaduct… more
NILES WEEKLY REGISTER, Baltimore, April 23, 1831 A brief report: "Liberia" reports that: "...The recaptured Africans have wonderfully improved...". "The Cherokees" begins: "The Phoenix of the 26th… more
* Schenectady and Utica Railroad Company est.
A page 2 report begins: It will be a matter of public congratulations that the senate...passed the
AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL, New York, Feb. 8, 1834
* Very early on the railroad industry
* Uncommon publication
This is an early issue of the very first American periodical on railroading.
… more
AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL, New York
* Very early & rare railroad periodical
* Trains - locomotives - lot of 6 issues
This title was the very first American periodical on railroading.… more
THE SUN, N.Y., May 9, 1834 Pg. 3 has a report about an accident on the Camden and Amboy Railroad, when two engines travelling in opposite directions made contact at a curve. The Camden & Amboy RR… more
AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL, New York, July 26, 1834 This is a very early issue--a volume three issue--of the very first American periodical on railroading. The best feature of this newspaper is the… more
AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL, New York, Dec. 19, 1835
* Very early on the railroad industry
* Uncommon publication
This is an early issue of the very first American periodical on railroading.
… more
AMERICAN TRAVELLER, Boston, Oct. 25, 1836 Page 2 has a report: "Late And Direct from Texas" which mentions in part: "...articles by David G. Burnett, the late President, ing vindication of his… more
NEW YORK HERALD, New York, February 2, 1842
* American Musuem
* Niagara Falls - Early railroad
Page 2 has a report about the attractions at the American Museum, including a model of the city… more
DOLLAR WEEKLY, New York, Oct. 8, 1842
* Liberty Dollar coin
Has an engraving of a dollar coin in the masthead, the cost of an annual subscription. Back page has an engraving and caption: The… more
AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL, New York, Oct. 23, 1845
* Early on the railroad industry
* Uncommon publication
An early issue of the very first American periodical on railroading. The best… more
AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL, New York, Dec. 4, 1845
* Early on the railroad industry
* Uncommon publication
An early issue of the very first American periodical on railroading. The best… more
AMERICAN RAILROAD JOURNAL, New York, Dec. 18, 1845 An early issue of the very first American periodical on railroading. The best feature of this newspaper might be the engravings of a railroad… more
MONTHLY BULLETIN, New York, May 15, 1846 Actually a quite scarce title as Gregory (Union List of American Newspapers) notes it began March 15 but doesn't know when it ended in 1846. Only the… more
NEW YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, Jan. 6, 1847 The front page has: "Railroad to the Pacific--The Public Lands" which would not come to fruition until 1869. Also: "From the Seat of War" which on the Mexican… more
MONTHLY BULLETIN, New York, Jan.15, 1847
* Early locomotive engraving
Actually a quite scarce title as Gregory (Union List of American Newspapers) notes it began March 15, 1846 but doesn't… more
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Feb. 17, 1849
* Gold discoveries in village of San Francisco
The front page has: "The Grand Inauguration Ball, at the City Hall Saloon". Page… more
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Feb. 21, 1849
* Early in Abraham Lincoln's political career
* Addresses United States Congress
Page 3 has much reporting from the "House of… more
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., May 28, 1849 Inside pages include: "Disturbances on the Isthmus" of Panama, which has much on problems concerning the many travelers going to & from… more
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 3, 1849 A page 3 article begins: "Vessels For California" which gives the details of the large number of ships leaving from the East and bound for… more
GLEASON'S PICTORIAL DRAWING-ROOM COMPANION, Boston, May 17, 1851 The front page shows: "Packet Ship Isaac Webb, of New York." Inside prints include: "Encounter with a Whale" "Race Course on Long… more
GLEASON'S PICTORIAL DRAWING-ROOM COMPANION, Boston, May 17, 1851 The front page shows: "Packet Ship Isaac Webb, of New York." Inside prints include: "Encounter with a Whale" "Race Course on Long… more
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, New York, Feb. 7, 1852
* Starrucca Viaduct print
* Lanesboro, Pennsylvania
The front page features a nice engraving of: "Starrucca Viaduct, on the New York and Erie… more
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., March 18, 1852
* Early railroad construction in the West
The front page has: "Fugitive Slaves" as well as: "Export of Gold From California" which… more
ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, April 10, 1852 Included are two pages of: "Traveling In the United States" which includes four prints including steam ship, sleighing, and railroad. Good text as well.
… more
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Oct. 5, 1852
* Transcontinental Railroad thought
Page 3 has a nice report: "The Desert Beyond the Colorado--And the Pacific Railroad" being a… more
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., Nov. 4, 1852 Taking over 1 1/2 columns on page 2 is the very detailed: "Captain Stansbury's Expedition To The Great Salt Lake". This is a wonderful… more
LONG ISLAND DEMOCRAT, Jamaica, N.Y., Jan. 4, 1853 Front page has the Carriers Address To The Patrons Of The Long-Island Democrat. Takes a column and a bit more. Others headlines throughout this… more
GLEASON'S PICTORIAL, Boston, Jan. 8, 1853
* Early gold mining print
Half the ftpg: "View Of The Old Dutch Church at Sleepy Hollow, N.Y." Half page: "Off To The Diggins--Scene Illustrating The… more
THE ILLUSTRATED NEWS New York, April 16, 1853 The cover has: "Arthur Spring - The Philadelphia Murderer", with related text regarding the murder which contains considerable discussion regarding… more
ILLUSTRATED NEWS, New York, May 7, 1853
* Rare Jewish synagogue illustration
* Congregation Chasam Sopher
* Judaica - Jews - Judaism
Formatted very much like Harper's Weekly although… more
ILLUSTRATED NEWS, New York, May 21, 1853 Phineas T. Barnum was the co-owner of this early illustrated newspaper which preceded both "Leslie's Illustrated" and "Harper's Weekly", the latter two… more
ILLUSTRATED NEWS, New York, May 21, 1853 Phineas T. Barnum was the co-owner of this early illustrated newspaper which preceded both "Leslie's Illustrated" and "Harper's Weekly", the latter two… more
ILLUSTRATED NEWS, New York, May 21, 1853 Phineas T. Barnum was the co-owner of this early illustrated newspaper which preceded both "Leslie's Illustrated" and "Harper's Weekly", the latter two… more
DAILY NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER, Washington, D.C., June 16, 1853 Among the page 3 articles are: "Surveys For the Pacific Railroad" which reports on the work being done to find an appropriate route for… more
ILLUSTRATED NEWS, New York, June 18, 1853 P.T. Barnum was the co-owner (see photos) of this early illustrated newspaper which preceded both "Leslie's Illustrated" and "Harper's Weekly". This effort… more
ILLUSTRATED NEWS, New York, June 18, 1853 P.T. Barnum was the co-owner (see photos) of this early illustrated newspaper which preceded both "Leslie's Illustrated" and "Harper's Weekly". This effort… more
NEW YORK WEEKLY BUDGET, June 25, 1853 Among the articles are: "Catholic Violence" "Sad Casualty on the N.Y. & Erie Railroad" "How Felons are Made" & more. This is the vol. 1 #4 issue.
Four pages,… more
GLEASON'S PICTORIAL, Boston, Massachusetts, September 3, 1853 The front page features a half-page illustration "September". Within the issue is: "Jullien, the Artist" with an accompanying small… more
ILLUSTRATED NEWS, New York, Oct. 22, 1853 Formatted much like Harper's Weekly, but published 4 years previous to the more famous title. P.T. Barnum was a "Special Partner" in this publication as… more
FREDERICK DOUGLASS' PAPER, Rochester, New York, Sept. 8, 1854
* Extremely rare publication
We are pleased to offer this exceedingly rare--and highly desirable--newspaper by the famed… more
NEW YORK TRIBUNE, Oct. 6, 1854
* Slavery - slaves - pre-Civil War tensions
* Rare "Underground Railroad" mention
The bottom of page 4 has small report with a rare mention of the Underground… more
TWIN VALLEY LOCOMOTIVE, Germantown, Ohio, November 9, 1854
* Uncommon title
Nice masthead engraving (see), news of the day with several advertisements.
Complete in 4 pages, a little irregular… more
BALLOU'S PICTORIAL, Boston, April 28, 1855 A periodical much in the style of the more popular Harper's Weekly, but this title existed before Harper's did.
The front page has a print of: "May… more
* Religion & government
* Know Nothing Party
Page 2 has a lengthy and compelling letter to the editor: Impossibility of Uniting Religion with Politics in
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