Here's a useful historic map site.

[JCitron]

http://www.historicmapworks.com/

There are historic maps here that can be downloaded (after purchase), or can be viewed online. The format includes GEOTiff which can be imported into TransDEM for geolocation on top of DEM files.

It's interesting to see some of the details put in on these maps including landowners, railroad companies, long-gone rail branches, and even horse railroads.

I've found them useful for locating rail yards that have long since been wiped out, and don't even show up on topographic maps that came out shortly these were originally published, and don't even appear in aerial photographs we have today.

John

 

[wva-usa]

You can download (U.S.) historical topo maps from http://nationalmap.gov/historical/index.html (U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) website) for $0.00 (they're free).

Most of the U.S. maps (non-topo maps) I found on the site you mentioned are available (for free) from http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/browse/ListSome.php?category=Maps (Library of Congress, American Memory website).

 

[JCitron]

You can download (U.S.) historical topo maps from http://nationalmap.gov/historical/index.html (U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) website) for $0.00 (they're free).

Most of the U.S. maps (non-topo maps) I found on the site you mentioned are available (for free) from http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/browse/ListSome.php?category=Maps (Library of Congress, American Memory website).

I also have the Historic Document Library at UNH Durham for New England topos.

I've been here before. The government websites do not have many of the Sanborn Co. fire maps, which have great street details. The topomaps, sadly are downloadable GeoTiffs which are a pain sometimes to work with, and typical of a government website the search engine is overly complicated for this information. Why not just put in city and state? Why do you have to break down the search into micro-details to get what you want? This makes searching for the information a totally hit or miss situation.

John

 

[stagecoach]

Another UK one is at http://www.old-maps.co.uk/index.html

 

[mezzoprezzo]

Great site!

Another UK one is at http://www.old-maps.co.uk/index.html

An excellent recommendation.:Y:

One historical UK route I modelled was only made possible by use of this site.

The area I was building had no less than 15 maps of the same location from different eras, one of which, luckily, was 1:500 scale . It showed tracks (both rails!), posts, buffers, signal box locations etc.

You can preview the maps by selecting the Get Maps tab and navigating to your UK location of choice.

Select, “All Available Maps”, then wait for them to load (it takes a few seconds). Then choose the era. Enlarge it. Be patient to allow the detail to load to maximum resolution.

 

[JCitron]

An excellent recommendation.:Y:

One historical UK route I modelled was only made possible by use of this site.

The area I was building had no less than 15 maps of the same location from different eras, one of which, luckily, was 1:500 scale . It showed tracks (both rails!), posts, buffers, signal box locations etc.

You can preview the maps by selecting the Get Maps tab and navigating to you UK location of choice.

Select, “All Available Maps”, then wait for them to load (it takes a few seconds). Then choose the era. Enlarge it. Be patient to allow the detail to load to maximum resolution.

I agree! This is an awesome map site too.

I'll have to poke around this one to get some ideas for things.

John

 

[JAGG]

Although little out of range of interest of US&UK enthusiast, let me add link for CZ version of such online historical maps viewer: http://oldmaps.geolab.cz It includes 1st, 2nd and 3rd military survey as well as Muller's survey together with fragments of Stabile cadaster, up to 1:25k scale. Once saw for first time some years ago, I've found it as masterpieces of 18-19 centurie's geographical art. There is contemporary stage of KFNB clearly visible there in 3rd survey for example.

 

[robd]

You won't beat this one for a historical map:

http://www.herefordcathedral.org/visit-us/mappa-mundi-1

 

[wheelsonfire]

You won't beat this one for a historical map:

http://www.herefordcathedral.org/visit-us/mappa-mundi-1

There were no railways on my copy :hehe: