(AFX) - Milestones in the 150-year history of Rand McNally & Co.:
1856 -
William Rand opens Chicago printing shop.
1868 -
Rand and partner Andrew McNally establish Rand McNally & Co. to print railroad tickets and timetables.
1871 -
Rand and McNally rescue two printing machines during the Great Chicago Fire by burying them in sand, saving the business.
1872 -
First Rand McNally map appears in December issue of the Railway Guide.
1880 -
Enters educational publishing with line of maps, globes and textbooks.
1917 -
On a Peoria, Ill., map, introduces highway numbering system that became model for system still used nationwide.
1924 -
Publishes first Rand McNally Road Atlas.
1952 -
Moves headquarters from Chicago to suburban Skokie, Ill.
1997 -
Sold to New York investment firm AEA Investors Inc. for reported $500 million.
1999 -
Acquires Thomas Guide publisher Thomas Bros. Maps, bringing the two leading map publishers together.
2003 -
Undergoes Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization that gives majority ownership to Leonard Green & Partners LP, Los Angeles private equity firm.
Sources: Company, news reports.
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