News

What Thanksgiving Looked Like 100 Years Ago — Through the Eyes of Sanborn Maps

What Thanksgiving Looked Like 100 Years Ago — T...

See what Thanksgiving looked like 100+ years ago. Explore how Sanborn Maps show the real streets, buildings, and landmarks—like Plymouth Rock—from early American hometowns.

What Thanksgiving Looked Like 100 Years Ago — T...

See what Thanksgiving looked like 100+ years ago. Explore how Sanborn Maps show the real streets, buildings, and landmarks—like Plymouth Rock—from early American hometowns.

Composite image of the 1902 Jailhouse Inn in Sadieville, Kentucky alongside a 1908 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, printed by Hometown History Maps to illustrate the story of connecting local history to modern spaces

From Jailhouse to Guesthouse: How One Kentucky ...

When a Kentucky Airbnb owner uncovered a 1908 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map showing his building marked “JAIL,” it brought the town’s history — and his restoration — to life. Discover...

From Jailhouse to Guesthouse: How One Kentucky ...

When a Kentucky Airbnb owner uncovered a 1908 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map showing his building marked “JAIL,” it brought the town’s history — and his restoration — to life. Discover...

Side-by-side Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Evart, Michigan from 1920 and 1942 showing correction sheets applied to update buildings and streets over time — an example of historical map editing featured by Hometown History Maps

When History Edited Itself: Exploring Sanborn M...

Correction sheets are the human fingerprints of mapmaking — little paper patches pasted by hand to keep Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps up to date. Each one tells a story of...

When History Edited Itself: Exploring Sanborn M...

Correction sheets are the human fingerprints of mapmaking — little paper patches pasted by hand to keep Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps up to date. Each one tells a story of...

Old Maps of America: Discovering Your Hometown Through Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

Old Maps of America: Discovering Your Hometown ...

Discover your hometown as it looked over 100 years ago. Explore the history of American cities and towns through original Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps — detailed, colorful, and now beautifully...

Old Maps of America: Discovering Your Hometown ...

Discover your hometown as it looked over 100 years ago. Explore the history of American cities and towns through original Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps — detailed, colorful, and now beautifully...

Now on Hometown History Maps: Bird’s-Eye (Panoramic) Maps

Now on Hometown History Maps: Bird’s-Eye (Panor...

Now on Hometown History Maps: Bird’s-Eye (Panoramic) Maps  In addition to our beloved Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, we’re excited to introduce historic bird’s-eye view—also called panoramic—maps. These are the big,...

Now on Hometown History Maps: Bird’s-Eye (Panor...

Now on Hometown History Maps: Bird’s-Eye (Panoramic) Maps  In addition to our beloved Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, we’re excited to introduce historic bird’s-eye view—also called panoramic—maps. These are the big,...

🕰️ The Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Time Machine

🕰️ The Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Time Machine

Step into the Sanborn Map Time Machine—a quick guide to reading Sanborn Fire Insurance maps so you can find your house or family business. Learn the color code (yellow=wood, pink=brick,...

🕰️ The Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Time Machine

Step into the Sanborn Map Time Machine—a quick guide to reading Sanborn Fire Insurance maps so you can find your house or family business. Learn the color code (yellow=wood, pink=brick,...