Nearly 124,000 high resolution scans of the more than 200,000 historical USGS topographic maps, some dating as far back as 1884, are now available online.
The release of more than 13,688 historical topographic maps covering California highlights the rapid pace of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Historical Topographic Map Collection.
The Historical Topographic Map Collection includes published U.S. maps of all scales and editions, and are offered as a georeferenced digital download or as a scanned print from the USGS Store.
"These maps harken back to California’s past, when its awesome topography could make a simple trip for staples a day-long journey in a horse-drawn buckboard," said USGS director Marcia McNutt. "The uses of these maps for scientists, historians, educators, and even by those who simply want to be reminded of a time when life moved a little slower, are limited only by our imagination."
Historical maps are an important national resource as they provide the long-term record and documentation of the natural, physical and cultural landscape. The history documented by this collection and the analysis of distribution and spatial patterns is invaluable throughout the sciences and non-science disciplines. Genealogists, historians, anthropologists, archeologists and others use this collection for research as well as for a framework on which a myriad of information can be presented in relation to the landscape. For more than 130 years, the USGS topographic mapping program has accurately portrayed the complex geography of our nation through maps using the lithographic printing process. The historical collection contains high resolution scanned images from the USGS legacy series and other sources and was made public mid-September, 2011.
Historical maps are offered to the public at no cost in GeoPDF format or as a printed copy for $15 plus a $5 handling charge from the USGS Store and can be used in conjunction with the new USGS digital topographic map, the US Topo. Check the website for continuous updates.
The project is part of the USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP) continuing efforts to support the mapping and location-based data needs of the Nation.
About the USGS Historical Topographic Maps
For more than 125 years, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps have accurately portrayed the complex geography of the Nation. The USGS is the largest producer of printed topographic maps, and, prior to 2009, USGS topographic maps were created using traditional cartographic methods and printed using the lithographic printing process.
Because historical maps are stored in a limited number of collections and are not readily available, the USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP) is converting these historical printed topographic quadrangles to an electronic format (GeoPDF). This scanning and processing effort serves the dual purpose of creating a master catalog and digital archive copies of the irreplaceable collection of topographic maps in the USGS Reston Map Library as well as making the maps available for viewing and download from the USGS Store.
Resources:
- Historical Topographic Map Collection search
Locate and view metadata and historical maps
through a map name search - USGS Store: Map Locator and Downloader
Locate, view, download and purchase historical maps
through a map-based search