Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps Beginning in 1866, the Sanborn Map Company began creating detailed maps of many U.S. towns. For over a hundred years they sold these maps to fire insurance companies to help them assess the risk of fire. Sanborn maps show mainly streets and structures and where water mains were located, the kind… Continue reading Fun With Maps #3
Category: Fun With Maps
Fun With Maps #2
Original Survey Maps Early in the State of Michigan’s history, the government sent out surveyors to chart and map each and every corner of their new state. The survey maps of the Upper Peninsula were prepared throughout the 1840s to the 1850s. Surveyors tramped through woods and swamp with their chains and compasses and transits.… Continue reading Fun With Maps #2
Fun With Maps #1
Archaic Michigan Maps One the many research rabbit holes I fell down while preparing Wild and Woolly Days was old maps of the Upper Peninsula. Not just 1880-1920 maps, but really old maps. They are full of imaginary islands, odd names, charming little drawings. What’s more, many of these maps have been put online and… Continue reading Fun With Maps #1