Database Spotlight: Sanborn Maps
If you've ever used our Sanborn Maps collection, you'll be happy to know that we've recently expanded it to include maps for all 50 states and the District of Columbia!
If you haven't used this collection, the Sanborn Maps are historical, large-scale maps of U.S. cities and towns that list such details such as the outline of each building, the house and block numbers in use at the time (and previous numbers), the size, shape and construction materials, heights and function of structures, location of windows and doors, street names, street and sidewalk widths, property boundaries, and building use. These maps are valuable tools for learning where historical structures once stood and for seeing how U.S. cities and Washington D.C. have grown over time.
If you haven't explored this collection, I urge you to do so. It's a helpful tool for researchers and just an all-around cool resource to explore.
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Recommended Main Street communities and districts (like Capitol Hill!) use these as they embarked on historic preservation and economic restructuring projects. We would have loved to have these online!
Used Sanborn maps when preparing nominations to the National Register of Historic Properties and now, to have not just Oklahoma but all fifty states and D.C., some back to the 1880's--thank you is all I can say. This is a fantastic resource for preservationists, genealogists, environmentalists and historians and those researching the history of their historic home.