Library Guides: Maps & Mapping: Historic Maps

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

Sanborn Maps of Montana
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Access Montana Sanborn fire insurance maps electronically.
Note: if you are a Montana resident but not affiliated with MSU (ie not a student, faculty or staff member), you won't be able to access our subscription online but are welcome to come into the library to use the database. You can also contact the Montana Historical Society at mhslibrary@mt.gov or (406) 444-2681 to get online access.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps from the Library of Congress
Online access to over 6000 sheets in the following states: AK, AL, AZ, CA, CT, DC, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NV, OH, PA, TX, VA, VT, WY and Canada, Mexico, Cuba sugar warehouses, and U.S. whiskey warehouses.

A number of Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, including those for Montana, are also available on microfilm in Archives and Special Collections. To find specific collections, search CatSearch.

Historic Maps Online

All Over the Map
A feature of National Geographic
American Geographical Society Library's Digital Map Collection
The American Geographical Society Library Digital Map Collection currently contains over 700 maps, ranging from early maps of Asia to historical maps of Wisconsin and Milwaukee, and other American cities, states, and national parks. The digital collection is under continuing development.
American Memory Map Collections at the Library of Congress
Provides access to digital representations of maps found in the Geography and Maps Division of the Library of Congress and covering the years 1500-1999. Search using keywords or browse the subject, title, creator and geographic indexes to find maps that are focused on Americana and cartographic treasures found in the Library of Congress.

American West
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Includes a Maps section with both historical maps and historical data visualization maps.

Atlas of Historical County Boundaries
A project of the William M. Scholl Center for American History and Culture at The Newberry Library in Chicago, the Atlas presents in maps and text complete data about the creation and all subsequent changes (dated to the day) in the size, shape, and location of every county in the fifty United States and the District of Columbia.
BLM - Official Federal Land Records Site
Includes land patents, survey plats and field notes, and land status records.
BLM GLO (General Land Office) Records
**** For GLO Record legend information, see http://www.mngeo.state.mn.us/glo/Legend_Main.htm
David Rumsey Collection
A historical map collection with over 21,000 maps and images online. The collection focuses on rare 18th and 19th century North American and South American maps and other cartographic materials. Historic maps of the World, Europe, Asia, and Africa are also represented.
Historical Maps in the Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
Historical Montana Highway Maps
Highway maps from 1935 on.
Old Maps Online
See http://project.oldmapsonline.org/about for information about this site.
Persuasive Map Collection at Cornell