Sanborn Samplers

To illustrate the value of fire insurance maps for historical research, maps of a number of locations around the country are reproduced here and presented with a brief history of the site and some explanation of significant features as portrayed on the maps. These locations were selected because of their historical importance, their popularity as places to visit, or because they represent important types of structures or businesses that are well documented in fire insurance maps.

Details about each place, such as symbols or features of portions of maps, have been annotated to show the different aspects of urban landscapes that can be studied through fire insurance maps and how specific types of structures or activities are depicted on them.

Gary L. Fitzpatrick

Baltimore and Ohio Railroad | Bethlehem Steel | Chicago Union Stockyards | Cripple Creek | John Deere | Ebbets Field | Ford Motor Company | Ryman Auditorium | Tuskegee Institute | Waikiki