National Geographic Magazine Vol. 10 - 03. March 1899

A remarkable window into American geography and imperialism at a pivotal moment in history, this March 1899 issue of National Geographic captures the United States at the dawn of its colonial venture. The magazine opens with David J. Hill's 'The Original Territory of the United States,' a detailed examination of the nation's continental expansion from thirteen colonies to a continental power. Then comes Robert T. Hill's 'Porto Rico,' written just months after the Spanish-American War ended and the United States acquired the island as its first overseas territory. This article represents one of the earliest American geographical surveys of Puerto Rico in the wake of annexation, blending scientific observation with the assumptions of its era. For historians, collectors, and anyone fascinated by primary sources, this issue offers more than nostalgia: it documents the exact moment when America became an imperial power, complete with the confident, expansive tone of turn-of-the-century geography writing.