Friday Eye Candy: USGS Launches Historical Topographic Map Explorer

A new tool, released in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey and Esri, provides easy access to historical maps from all over the country, featuring a timeline to easily select maps from different eras.

1 minute read

July 11, 2014, 6:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"Two of the nation's most authoritative mapping sources, the U.S. Geological Survey and Esri, have partnered to put the rich tapestry of U.S. Historical Maps into the hands of everyone. Available in time for the Fourth of July and able to be accessed on all digital devices, the USGS Historical Topographic Map Explorer brings to life more than 178,000 maps dating from 1884 to 2006," according to a press release from Esri.

For an example of the awesome breadth and depth of the archive available on the site, even my small hometown of Weaverville, California has historical maps, dating back to 1913.

Weaverville, Trinity County, Present Day

Weaverville, Trinity County, 1913

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