It's maptacular!
December 10, 2024 6:08 AM Subscribe
The fire insurance maps produced by the Sanborn Map Company beginning in the 1860s are a rich and exceptionally detailed resource about American urban history. But they're also a beautiful collection of design and typography of the period. A new site brings together collections of digitized Sanborn Maps from libraries around the country to highlight the effusive design of the cover pages for each city. (via Kottke.)
In case it’s not clear, these “maps” were created from surveys evaluating fire risk and were intended to be used as a tool for insurance companies to better understand the risks they’d be underwriting and thus what premium to charge for a given property.
I’m mostly familiar with the maps Sanborn’s created for distilleries, where of course, fire risks were particularly high. Two surveys were performed, one in 1896 and one in 1910. Here is a link to the 1910 survey for Kentucky & Tennessee, a PDF courtesy of the University of Kentucky.
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 6:41 AM on December 10, 2024
I’m mostly familiar with the maps Sanborn’s created for distilleries, where of course, fire risks were particularly high. Two surveys were performed, one in 1896 and one in 1910. Here is a link to the 1910 survey for Kentucky & Tennessee, a PDF courtesy of the University of Kentucky.
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 6:41 AM on December 10, 2024
Something about the gratuitously high quality of these reminds me that back then a good high school would routinely teach its students Latin.
posted by Lemkin at 6:45 AM on December 10, 2024 [3 favorites]
posted by Lemkin at 6:45 AM on December 10, 2024 [3 favorites]
For local historians, Sanborn Maps are an essential resource for learning about their town's or city's past. You can see where people lived, what businesses existed where, and so on. This site really makes accessing them even easier than looking them up at an archive site (they tend to be a bit clunkier). So very cool to see.
posted by Atreides at 7:05 AM on December 10, 2024 [9 favorites]
posted by Atreides at 7:05 AM on December 10, 2024 [9 favorites]
Love to see these all in one place! And I would have also loved to see credit to the university archivists and processing assistants who did all the work to make these high-res scans.
posted by johnxlibris at 7:15 AM on December 10, 2024 [7 favorites]
posted by johnxlibris at 7:15 AM on December 10, 2024 [7 favorites]
Nice find! I became very familiar with Sanborn maps during my many years as an environmental attorney. They play a huge role in environmental site assessments. Basically, at the time they were prepared, they didn’t feel the need to hide any of the activities (foundries, chemical use and storage, manufactured gas plants, etc.) that on hindsight were nasty and polluting. All there at a block-by-block level of detail.
posted by JimInSYR at 7:17 AM on December 10, 2024 [7 favorites]
posted by JimInSYR at 7:17 AM on December 10, 2024 [7 favorites]
Oh, this is WONDERFUL. I love, love, love Sanborn maps.
The About page is fabulous - information about the passion project and links to a lot of great resources.
It's a little buried, but there's a link to the massive collection of Sanborn maps at the Library of Congress.
Even the LOC collection is incomplete (of course) - for example, it doesn't have the San Francisco set from 1905, just before the 1906 earthquake - but you CAN view the 1905 set of San Francisco Sanborn maps at the wonderful David Rumsey map collection.
I've used these for my hobby site on San Francisco architecture and history, and it is so fascinating to see how districts change, what was where and what was there later.
If you like this sort of thing, I highly recommend checking with your local library to see whether they have any physical Sanborn maps. There is nothing like standing in front of that huge book, carefully turning the gigantic pages. The Sanborn map books at the San Francisco Library's History Room are magical.
Thank you so much for posting this, Horace Rumpole! I love the site you shared, and I'm delighted to get to think about Sanborn maps all day.
posted by kristi at 7:18 AM on December 10, 2024 [12 favorites]
The About page is fabulous - information about the passion project and links to a lot of great resources.
It's a little buried, but there's a link to the massive collection of Sanborn maps at the Library of Congress.
Even the LOC collection is incomplete (of course) - for example, it doesn't have the San Francisco set from 1905, just before the 1906 earthquake - but you CAN view the 1905 set of San Francisco Sanborn maps at the wonderful David Rumsey map collection.
I've used these for my hobby site on San Francisco architecture and history, and it is so fascinating to see how districts change, what was where and what was there later.
If you like this sort of thing, I highly recommend checking with your local library to see whether they have any physical Sanborn maps. There is nothing like standing in front of that huge book, carefully turning the gigantic pages. The Sanborn map books at the San Francisco Library's History Room are magical.
Thank you so much for posting this, Horace Rumpole! I love the site you shared, and I'm delighted to get to think about Sanborn maps all day.
posted by kristi at 7:18 AM on December 10, 2024 [12 favorites]
OMG this is so good. I have a Sanborn map print of our hometown that I sourced years ago from our local library and local visitors at our house frequently stop there and study it for their street (or not, if it wasn't platted yet). These are so pretty and that site is beautifully laid out.
I will be a tourist in these maps for several hours today. Thanks, Horace Rumpole.
posted by AgentRocket at 7:59 AM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
I will be a tourist in these maps for several hours today. Thanks, Horace Rumpole.
posted by AgentRocket at 7:59 AM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
As an architectural historian, I use these maps all the time, they are a wonderful resource and truly fascinating to browse. For a couple of projects, we've "stitched together" an entire neighborhood or town of Sanborns to support research. The Black Bottom Archive in Detroit has a digital map that recreates a thriving Black neighborhood that was mostly lost to urban renewal.
Even the LOC collection is incomplete
ProQuest is more comprehensive in its coverage than the LOC digitized collection, but they are only black and white. (Colors typically showed building materials and of course are prettier ;) ) It requires a subscription but is often available through universities and bigger public libraries.
posted by Preserver at 8:24 AM on December 10, 2024 [2 favorites]
Even the LOC collection is incomplete
ProQuest is more comprehensive in its coverage than the LOC digitized collection, but they are only black and white. (Colors typically showed building materials and of course are prettier ;) ) It requires a subscription but is often available through universities and bigger public libraries.
posted by Preserver at 8:24 AM on December 10, 2024 [2 favorites]
The Sanborn maps for where I grew up are the only things attractive about it.
posted by Kitteh at 8:34 AM on December 10, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by Kitteh at 8:34 AM on December 10, 2024 [2 favorites]
There's a designer/printer in France, Mr Cup, and he has republished the Sanborn map titles in a volume you can buy. I have it. It's great.
posted by adamrice at 9:19 AM on December 10, 2024
posted by adamrice at 9:19 AM on December 10, 2024
I've used these for my hobby site on San Francisco architecture and history, and it is so fascinating to see how districts change, what was where and what was there later.
One of the cool things about reading Dashiell Hammett is some of the streetcar lines in 1920s and '30s San Francisco became bus lines with the same route numbers, like the 22 Fillmore.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:41 AM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
One of the cool things about reading Dashiell Hammett is some of the streetcar lines in 1920s and '30s San Francisco became bus lines with the same route numbers, like the 22 Fillmore.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:41 AM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
I like the breadth of this! Just missing the depth. I was hoping this had the full detailed sets of Sanborn maps, like 100+ for San Francisco. But at least for SF it's only a couple of images. As folks have said there's other sources that have full sets where you can zoom in with great detail. I swear I saw the SF set stitched together as a slippy map once too.
The local historical society I volunteer at has a huge collection of incredibly detailed survey maps. We call them the "McGuire Maps," from Nevada County, CA. Often just a single parcel drawn out on a huge sheet of paper, maybe 14x8 or bigger? They're very cool but very hard to work with as a set. I dream of scanning them all and stitching them together but I'm not sure the result would be worth the effort. At least they're safe in drawers, well indexed.
posted by Nelson at 9:42 AM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
The local historical society I volunteer at has a huge collection of incredibly detailed survey maps. We call them the "McGuire Maps," from Nevada County, CA. Often just a single parcel drawn out on a huge sheet of paper, maybe 14x8 or bigger? They're very cool but very hard to work with as a set. I dream of scanning them all and stitching them together but I'm not sure the result would be worth the effort. At least they're safe in drawers, well indexed.
posted by Nelson at 9:42 AM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
As far as I can tell, the DC section contains only 1 index map and 3 title pages, no actual plats. For anyone in the Washington area, the DC Public Library offers free online access to the much more robust ProQuest database Digital Sanborn Maps, 1867–1970.
posted by ryanshepard at 9:56 AM on December 10, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by ryanshepard at 9:56 AM on December 10, 2024 [2 favorites]
I used to work for analytical surveys, the company that was formerly sanborn. took the m&a guys about 18 months to turn it into a miserable shithole. lotta good people got let go.
posted by j_curiouser at 10:29 AM on December 10, 2024 [2 favorites]
posted by j_curiouser at 10:29 AM on December 10, 2024 [2 favorites]
Awesome. Plus my annual gift giving saga has been solved :)
posted by repoman at 12:13 PM on December 10, 2024
posted by repoman at 12:13 PM on December 10, 2024
The history of the Sanborn company is also fascinating! At one point, they had a monopoly on insurance fire maps.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanborn_maps
Around 1958, a young Warren Buffett returns to Omaha and starts a series of investment partnerships. An early investment is Sanborn. By 1961 (Buffet @ 31), 35% of assets is invested in Sanborn. Buffett recognizes Sanborn’s monopoly and eventually acquires a 44% stake with shareholder allies and gets a board seat. He starts agitating the company and to avoid a proxy fight, Sanborn agrees to use profits to repurchase shares. In just 2 years, Buffett reaped a 50% return!
posted by junesix at 12:53 PM on December 10, 2024 [4 favorites]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanborn_maps
Around 1958, a young Warren Buffett returns to Omaha and starts a series of investment partnerships. An early investment is Sanborn. By 1961 (Buffet @ 31), 35% of assets is invested in Sanborn. Buffett recognizes Sanborn’s monopoly and eventually acquires a 44% stake with shareholder allies and gets a board seat. He starts agitating the company and to avoid a proxy fight, Sanborn agrees to use profits to repurchase shares. In just 2 years, Buffett reaped a 50% return!
posted by junesix at 12:53 PM on December 10, 2024 [4 favorites]
Adam Cox, an engineer at LSU, has been working for a long time on a super cool project to lay Sanborns over contemporary satellite maps of the same area. Since he started it in Louisiana we have the most comprehensive coverage, but there are quite a few additional areas represented too. The most recent additions are Indianapolis and Chicago. Check it out at oldinsurancemaps.net.
posted by CheeseLouise at 2:37 PM on December 10, 2024 [5 favorites]
posted by CheeseLouise at 2:37 PM on December 10, 2024 [5 favorites]
Oh hell yeah CheeseLouise, that's the kind of thing I was hoping for. Do you know Cox? This kind of project could go a whole lot faster with a little investment. I'm not certain but I assume the older maps are out of copyright.
posted by Nelson at 3:26 PM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by Nelson at 3:26 PM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
ryanshepard, as you may have seen, the Library of Congress site does have more DC maps - looks like 1888, 1903, 1904, and 1916. I think these are the 94 images from 1916.
posted by kristi at 4:00 PM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
posted by kristi at 4:00 PM on December 10, 2024 [1 favorite]
Do you know Cox?
I do! I worked on some of the New Orleans sheets and it's, uh, a lot harder than it seems like it would be to line things up. I don't know about the money side but I'll memail you if you'd like to be put in touch.
posted by CheeseLouise at 5:00 PM on December 10, 2024 [2 favorites]
I do! I worked on some of the New Orleans sheets and it's, uh, a lot harder than it seems like it would be to line things up. I don't know about the money side but I'll memail you if you'd like to be put in touch.
posted by CheeseLouise at 5:00 PM on December 10, 2024 [2 favorites]
If I still lived anywhere near where I grew up (Lehigh Valley, PA), I would probably be a dabbler in local history.
TIL about Bethlehem, PA that:
* The property that I knew to be owned by the Bethlehem Steel Company used to be owned by "The Bethlehem Iron Company." There's a legend on that plot that says "No Insurance" (not surprising!)
* Bethlehem used to encompass a lot less land that it does today. The Sanborn map dates from 1885, which is well in advance of Bethlehem Steel's heyday in the early and mid 20th century. Hence: small city size, the waves of folks who would eventually work for Bethlehem Steel hadn't yet arrived!
* The Moravian Seminary and Cemetery were already in place (not surprising, the Moravians settled in Pennsylvania far before 1885)
* Lehigh University already owned quite a bit of land in South Bethlehem
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 2:05 AM on December 11, 2024 [2 favorites]
TIL about Bethlehem, PA that:
* The property that I knew to be owned by the Bethlehem Steel Company used to be owned by "The Bethlehem Iron Company." There's a legend on that plot that says "No Insurance" (not surprising!)
* Bethlehem used to encompass a lot less land that it does today. The Sanborn map dates from 1885, which is well in advance of Bethlehem Steel's heyday in the early and mid 20th century. Hence: small city size, the waves of folks who would eventually work for Bethlehem Steel hadn't yet arrived!
* The Moravian Seminary and Cemetery were already in place (not surprising, the Moravians settled in Pennsylvania far before 1885)
* Lehigh University already owned quite a bit of land in South Bethlehem
posted by rabia.elizabeth at 2:05 AM on December 11, 2024 [2 favorites]
San Jose is not represented in the linked archive, so you'll just have to visit the California Room at the main SJPL branch. Flipping through the old phone books, Sanborn maps and the USGS aerial photos is a great way to spend an afternoon.
posted by JDC8 at 10:44 AM on December 11, 2024
posted by JDC8 at 10:44 AM on December 11, 2024
A project for someone with money and time would be a before and after display. For example, this link shows, among other things, details of the Abel Smith & Co Window Glass Factory at 69 Carson Street, Pittsburgh PA
The space now contains luxury apartments named, appropriately, The Glass House.
The only reason I care is because of my great grandfather.
posted by BWA at 11:28 AM on December 11, 2024
The space now contains luxury apartments named, appropriately, The Glass House.
The only reason I care is because of my great grandfather.
posted by BWA at 11:28 AM on December 11, 2024
As an addendum to the above, I would invite the curious to zoom in on the LOC link and read the fine print. Making glass requires a lot of serious heat. The diagram shows what kind of flooring and such is found in each building.
I occurs to me that the maps' impact on the art and science of the actuary would be a good topic for someone inclined towards those areas. I expect it's already been done.
posted by BWA at 1:29 PM on December 11, 2024 [1 favorite]
I occurs to me that the maps' impact on the art and science of the actuary would be a good topic for someone inclined towards those areas. I expect it's already been done.
posted by BWA at 1:29 PM on December 11, 2024 [1 favorite]
Something about the gratuitously high quality of these reminds me that back then a good high school would routinely teach its students Latin.
posted by Lemkin at 6:45 AM on December 10 [3 favorites −] Favorite added! [⚑]
I graduated from a high school in 1972 that still taught Latin (along with French) as a foreign language. They thought Catholic kids should be doctors or lawyers when they grow up.
posted by coldhotel at 7:34 AM on December 12, 2024
posted by Lemkin at 6:45 AM on December 10 [3 favorites −] Favorite added! [⚑]
I graduated from a high school in 1972 that still taught Latin (along with French) as a foreign language. They thought Catholic kids should be doctors or lawyers when they grow up.
posted by coldhotel at 7:34 AM on December 12, 2024
My high school (class of '98) also taught Latin. I'm not sure at all if any of the other high schools in the district taught it, though. It may be just because we had one slightly eccentric teacher. I really enjoyed it, tbh.
posted by Atreides at 7:40 AM on December 12, 2024
posted by Atreides at 7:40 AM on December 12, 2024
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