The Pinkerton National Detective Agency shaped American law enforcement, labor relations, and security practices from 1850 through the early 20th century. This digital project maps their operations, agents, and impact across the United States.
Map
Explore Pinkerton surveillance locations on an interactive map with timeline animation and activity filtering.
Activities
Filter and explore surveillance activity data with interactive charts, timelines, and a searchable data table.
Insights
Compare patterns across investigations with stacked charts and small multiples for activity types, operatives, and more.
Investigations
El Paso Smelter Fraud
El Paso, Texas
Surveillance operations in a key border city focused on labor disputes, border crossings, and investigations into suspected radicals.
Robbery of the Corn Exchange Bank
New York City
Surveillance of Corn Exchange Bank employees across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.
Murder of William Hobart
New Jersey
Investigation into the murder of William Hobart across New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts.
Atlanta Laundry Thefts
Atlanta, Georgia
Investigations into laundry industry theft and labor issues in Atlanta and surrounding areas.