At the direction of the Boston City Council, city engineer James Slade produced this new map of the city. It was first published in 1861 and was reissued, with updates, every year from 1862 through 1870, with the exception of 1865.

This detailed map depicts wards, fire districts, streets, railroads, wharves, and public buildings throughout Boston proper, as well as in the two insets covering East and South Boston. This first edition documents the beginning stages of the filling in of the eastern portion of Back Bay.