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

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

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, dramatic town scenes you can spot from across the room. They’re beautiful, detailed, and perfect for walls that need a little “wow.” ✨

What are bird’s-eye (panoramic) maps?

From the late 1800s to early 1900s, artists created oblique “from-above” views of towns and cities. They weren’t aerial photos—just incredibly careful lithograph drawings. You’ll see street patterns, rail lines, churches, mills, depots, rivers, and surrounding landscapes. City boosters used them to promote growing communities; today they make gorgeous historic prints for any space.

Perspective map of the city of Dubuque, Ia. 1889. (1889) – Historic Bird’s-Eye View Panorama Print

Why people love them

  • 🖼️ Wall-worthy art with tons of character
  • 📍 Local pride—find your main street, landmarks, and neighborhoods
  • 🗣️ Conversation starters—perfect for homes, offices, and history fans

How we print them (no cropping—ever)

  • 📏 Size: 24×36 inch premium paper (landscape)
  • 🧭 Uncropped: we preserve the original proportions and center the image with white borders as needed
  • 🧵 Authentic character: we do not retouch—original stamps, fold lines, creases, and handwritten notes remain because they’re part of the map’s story
  • 🏛️ Source: Library of Congress, Geography & Map Division (Panoramic Maps Collection)

Bird’s-eye vs. Sanborn maps

  • 🌄 Bird’s-eye / Panoramic: artistic, whole-town views—great for décor, gifts and storytelling

Bird's eye view, Placerville, Cal. (1888) – Historic Bird’s-Eye View Panorama Print

  • 🧭 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps: street-level detail - (Shops, Factories, Mills, General Store, Banks, Hotels & More) -   A perfect zoomed in view of you town 100 years ago. Great as gifts, research material,  wall decor & conversations starters!

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Placerville, El Dorado County, California. (1899) – Historic Sanborn Fire Insurance Map Print

Tip: Pair a town’s bird’s-eye panorama with its Sanborn sheet for the ultimate local history set.

Find your town

Can’t find what you’re after? Message us—we’ll look!

FAQ

What exactly does Hometown History Maps provide?
We research and curate public-domain map scans, prepare them for printing, and produce high-quality reproduction prints on premium paper—an affordable way to enjoy historic maps at ready-to-frame sizes (no hunting, downloading, or DIY file prep required).

Do you crop or “clean up” the image?
No. We scale to fit the paper, keep white borders as needed, and leave original marks (stamps, folds, creases, notes) so the historic character stays intact.

What sizes do you use?

  • Bird’s-eye panoramas: 24×36 (landscape)
  • Sanborn map sheets: 24×30 (portrait)

Can I request a town or year?
Absolutely—send us a message and we’ll see what’s available. 🙌

Shop the Collections

➡️ Bird’s-Eye & Panoramic Maps → /collections/birds-eye-views
➡️ Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps → /collections/sanborn-maps

Birds-eye view of the Bethlehems, Pa. (1878) – Historic Bird’s-Eye View Panorama Print

Birdseye view of the National Capital, including the site of the proposed World's Exposition of 1892 and Permanent Exposition of the Three Americas (1888) – Historic Bird’s-Eye View Panorama Print

Birds eye view of Washburn, Wis. Bayfield County 1886. (1886) – Historic Bird’s-Eye View Panorama Print

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