Map of California Pacific Railroad, Showing Its Relative Position to Other Railroads

Cartographer: Drawn for the California Pacific Railroad Company; lithographed by Stein & Co., San Francisco, ca. 1871

Year: 1865

Issued as an advertising handbill, this map promotes the “short route” linking Sacramento to San Francisco in just four hours by rail to Vallejo and steamer New World across the bay. A bold black line highlights the California Pacific main track and its branches to Napa, Calistoga, Marysville, and the Oregon route junction at Yuba City. Shaded relief and bay soundings orient travelers, while boxed mileage tables compare river, rail, and stage distances to underscore a 52-mile time savings. The inset text explains through-ticketing, baggage transfer at Sacramento, and daily morning and evening trains that connect with Central Pacific arrivals. A second panel lists the railroad’s “present and future” connections, positioning the Cal-Pac as the gateway for freight and emigrants bound for Oregon, Nevada, and the mines. Decorative type and the bold “Take One!” footer reveal the piece’s function as a giveaway flyer at depots and river landings.