David Rumsey Map Collection
davidrumsey.com
A very large online collection of historical maps, many georeferenced so you can overlay them on a modern map of the same place.
The David Rumsey Map Collection is a huge online archive of historical maps, atlases and related material, put together by collector David Rumsey and now connected with the Stanford Libraries. Alongside the standard viewer it offers a georeferencer that overlays old maps on a modern map, so you can see how a place has changed.
It also has tools for exploring the collection by what, where, who and when, plus interactive globes and a search for map images. The maps are high-resolution and free to browse. If you are curious about how cities, coastlines and borders used to look, this is one of the richest places to spend time.
Why it is useful
Lets you compare old and current maps of the same area, which is useful for local history and genealogy. The maps are high resolution, and the collection covers atlases, wall maps and more from several centuries.
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