1911 Union Stock Yards Lancaster Pennsylvania PA Vintage Postcard, Railroad Yard

About This Vintage Postcard

This fascinating color lithograph postcard captures the industrial scale of the Union Stock Yards in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. As the caption proudly notes, this facility was once the largest of its kind east of Chicago, serving as a massive hub for the livestock trade and agricultural economy of Lancaster County. The scene features rows of animal pens and sheds with livestock transport railcars positioned on the adjacent tracks. This site was a critical point of transfer where animals from the western United States were brought for finishing or sale to eastern markets, illustrating the immense logistical network that fueled the American meatpacking industry during the early 20th century.

Details

Era: (1911)
City: Lancaster
State or Region: Pennsylvania
Country: United States
Topic: Union Stock Yards, Lancaster Agriculture, Railroad History, Livestock Industry, Industrial Americana
Condition: Uncirculated
Postage: None
Address Side: divided back
Orientation: Horizontal (Landscape)
Artist / Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: I. Steinfeldt, Lancaster, Pa.
Printer: Curt Teich and Co. (C. T. American Art Colored)
Print Type: Lithograph (White Border)

Additional Information

The manufacturing date for this card is precisely identified as 1911. This is confirmed by the Curt Teich & Co. production number "25094" and the specific "C. T. American Art Colored" branding, which aligns with the company's production records for that year as prefix letters were being phased out in the order books. Published by I. Steinfeldt, a local Lancaster-based editor, the card captures the Union Stock Yards at their operational peak. Established in 1895, the yards were a cornerstone of the city's economy for over a century. This postcard preserves a vital piece of Pennsylvania's industrial and agricultural history, documenting the facilities before the mid-century decline of rail-based livestock transport.

This postcard would look great framed or make an excellent addition to any collection.

Love it ♡
Get it ☆
Get Lucky 💋 Vintage