Thread by @geo_spatialist

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I’ve had several requests for map sources lately. I do not scan or own any of the originals, I get them all from online sources that provide high res scans.

So, here’s some of my sources in no particular order. Please feel free to add your favorites to the thread!

I have a total of 1 real antique map on my wall at home and that’s the entirety of my collection.

Maybe I’ll do an elevation data source post soon.

topoView – @USGS - Almost every USGS topo map of the US going back to the 1800s, and they come pre-georeferenced. I have found that some older ones may not be too accurate and will still require a few control points to be dropped.

ngmdb.usgs.gov/topoview/viewer

Bibliothèque nationale de France – Gallica – By far my absolute favorite place to peruse old maps. Generally if you see a map I’ve done with a red RF stamp on it, that’s where it came from.

gallica.bnf.fr/html/und/carte…

National Geologic Map Database – @USGS – Harder to navigate and discover, but you can find some gems.

ngmdb.usgs.gov/ngm-bin/ngm_co…

Library of Congress Map Archive – @LOCMaps - Another amazing source with maps going as far back as the 1100s. If you’re looking for a US map, though, be ready to slog through tons of listings of Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps.

loc.gov/maps/

David Rumsey Map Collection - @DavidRumseyMaps - I don’t pull from here often, but it’s an amazing collection.

davidrumsey.com

National Library of Scotland - @natlibscot – if you look back through my post history you can tell when I discovered and got obsessed with this map source.

maps.nls.uk

University of Texas Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection - @utlibraries – Great source of historical military and aeronautical charts plus many many others.

legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/

Atlas of Places – Curated map gallery that I sometimes use to find original sources.

atlasofplaces.com/cartography/

NOAA Historical Map and Chart Collection - @NOAA – Just like it says on the tin. I haven’t done any from here yet, but there will be some in the near future. *furtively glancing at Puget Sound*

historicalcharts.noaa.gov

The National Library of Wales - @NLWales – I haven’t even been to this website before today, it was shared with me recently so I thought I would mention it.

places.library.wales

University of Alabama Historical Map Archive – @US_AS - one of my least favorite because they run some sort of auto color correct on the majority of their maps, and it looks pretty bad most of the time. But you might find some good ones.

alabamamaps.ua.edu/historicalmaps/

@threadreaderapp unroll

Forgot to tag Gallica in this thread - @GallicaBnF