Antique map - Magdeburg 1917

Pharus map of Magdeburg in 1917: the capital of Prussian Saxony on the Elbe, its central station, its Gothic cathedral, Rothes Horn Park and the industrial district of Buckau.

This Pharus map shows Magdeburg, known as Magdeburg in German, in 1917. The city was then the capital of the Prussian Province of Saxony (Provinz Sachsen). It is now in the state of Saxony-Anhalt (Sachsen-Anhalt), of which it is the capital. Its population surpassed 280,000 on the eve of the First World War, reaching nearly 290,000 in 1917.

Magdeburg has one of the richest histories in central Germany, shaped by the reign of Emperor Otto I and the famous Magdeburg Law (Magdeburger Recht), which inspired municipal laws throughout Eastern Europe. Once an important Hanseatic stronghold and a first-rate Prussian fortress, the city experienced exceptional industrial growth in the 19th and early 20th centuries, becoming a major center for mechanical engineering, heavy industry and river trade on the Elbe. It is also the historic home of the Magdeburgische Zeitung, one of Germany's oldest and most prestigious newspapers.

Places and districts shown:

• The central station (Haupt-Bhf) and the Haupt Güter-Bhf: at the center of the map, the central station, highlighted in red, and the freight station serve this major Prussian railway hub.

• The cathedral (Dom) and historic heart: Magdeburg's majestic cathedral (Magdeburger Dom) and old town stretch along the Elbe, bordered by the famous shopping street, Breiter Weg.

• The Elbe River and Rothes Horn Park: the branches of the Elbe (Strom-Elbe, Alte Elbe) surround the large river island home to Rothes Horn Park (Stadtpark Rothes Horn).

• Buckau industrial district: to the southwest, the district of Buckau stands out for its high concentration of factories and railway infrastructure highlighted in red.

• Wilhelmstadt and the western districts: to the northwest, the map highlights the residential district of Wilhelmstadt and the ring of boulevards (Ring).

• Neustadt inset: a detailed map inset on the left updates the map of the Neustadt area northwest of the city.

• Roads and regional routes: the map details the railway lines and tram routes, and marks the main roads out of the city to neighboring towns in orange.

Cartographic highlight: this “Pharus-Plan Magdeburg” belongs to the same series as the 1917 plans of Berlin, Frankfurt, Hanover, Kiel, Leipzig, Lübeck, Aachen, Bremen, Breslau, Koblenz, Cologne, Darmstadt, Dresden, Duisburg, and Düsseldorf, with railway stations in red and buildings drawn in perspective. The banner of the Magdeburgische Zeitung runs across the top and borders the map (“Central Germany’s largest political and commercial newspaper”), and the legend marks automobile and bicycle routes out of the city in orange. A letter-and-number grid makes it possible to locate each place.

In brief: for anyone with ties to Magdeburg or Saxony-Anhalt, interested in industrial history, Prussian architecture, the Elbe’s major waterways, or the Pharus-Verlag collection, this map offers an exceptional portrait of the city in 1917, when its population was nearly 290,000.

What area does this map of Magdeburg cover? It covers the city of Magdeburg and its suburbs: the old town, cathedral, and main railway station in the center, Rothes Horn park on the Elbe to the south, the industrial district of Buckau to the southwest, as well as Wilhelmstadt and Neustadt to the north and west.

What year was this map published? This map dates from 1917. It was published by Pharus-Verlag of Berlin.

Reproduction of the “Pharus-Plan Magdeburg,” published in 1917 by Pharus-Verlag in Berlin.

Printed on 200 g/m² textured art paper. Landscape orientation, standard sizes 50x70 and 70x100: easy to frame.