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Topic Guide
Seattle Picks: Digital Maps
Staff-created list
The digital revolution has had an enormous impact on the world of maps and cartography. Large numbers of historical print maps have been digitized, and maps can be created online with the use of spatial data and mapping software. Many options exist for viewing and creating maps online as well as for printing. Featured in this list are websites and other digital resources that librarians in the History, Travel and Maps Department at the Seattle Public Library use to answer questions. (Updated June 2021)
The Seattle Public Library
Web Resource
The Afriterra Library of African Maps contains over 5,000 rare historical maps of Africa, spanning over 500 years from 1478 to the 1900s and covering all ...Show more
The Afriterra Library of African Maps contains over 5,000 rare historical maps of Africa, spanning over 500 years from 1478 to the 1900s and covering all regions of the continent and scales. Maps included date primarily from the 16th through 18th centuries.
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Web Resource
The American Memory Map Collections are focused on Americana and organized according to seven major categories: cities and towns, conservation and enviro...Show more
The American Memory Map Collections are focused on Americana and organized according to seven major categories: cities and towns, conservation and environment, military battles, discovery and exploration, cultural landscapes, and transportation and communication. Browse for maps by geographic region, subject, creator, title, or keyword (but not by date range).
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Web Resource
ArcGIS online is a “lightweight” GIS (geographic information system) application. You may sign up for a free ArcGIS Online account that allows you to make...Show more
ArcGIS online is a “lightweight” GIS (geographic information system) application. You may sign up for a free ArcGIS Online account that allows you to make web maps which can be viewed in a browser, desktop or mobile device or shared on a blog, via email, or embedded in a website.
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Web Resource
The City of Seattle’s website includes a page which provides various community maps, property maps, zoning maps, environmental critical maps, and park maps.
The City of Seattle’s website includes a page which provides various community maps, property maps, zoning maps, environmental critical maps, and park maps.
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Web Resource
Rare 18th and 19th century North and South American maps and other cartographic materials are the focus of this collection of over 10,000 maps. Historic ...Show more
Rare 18th and 19th century North and South American maps and other cartographic materials are the focus of this collection of over 10,000 maps. Historic maps of the World, Europe, Asia and Africa are also represented. The images can be viewed and downloaded in unusually high detail.
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Web Resource
Sanborn fire insurance maps feature historic detailed maps showing streets and building footprints for Seattle (1884-1951), other Puget Sound cities, and ...Show more
Sanborn fire insurance maps feature historic detailed maps showing streets and building footprints for Seattle (1884-1951), other Puget Sound cities, and cities of the entire United States. This subscription database requires a Seattle Public Library card and PIN for remote use.
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Web Resource
Spanning three hundred years, this site includes maps of explorers such as Lewis and Clark, documents ownership struggles and boundary disputes in the reg...Show more
Spanning three hundred years, this site includes maps of explorers such as Lewis and Clark, documents ownership struggles and boundary disputes in the region, shows the development of one of the last frontiers on the continent, and demonstrates the efforts of the US government to survey the land.
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Web Resource
Google Earth uses satellite and aerial imagery and other data to create a 3D representation of the Earth as an interactive globe. Google Earth for Web is ...Show more
Google Earth uses satellite and aerial imagery and other data to create a 3D representation of the Earth as an interactive globe. Google Earth for Web is a limited browser-based version, while Google Earth Pro is a downloadable desktop version with more features.
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Web Resource
Google Maps is web-based mapping software which offers satellite imagery, street maps, and Street View perspectives, as well as a route planner for cars or public transit and for walking and bicycling.
Google Maps is web-based mapping software which offers satellite imagery, street maps, and Street View perspectives, as well as a route planner for cars or public transit and for walking and bicycling.
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Web Resource
The King County GIS Center is a prime provider of spatial information and geographic information services in the region. Among the many components availa...Show more
The King County GIS Center is a prime provider of spatial information and geographic information services in the region. Among the many components available to citizens and businesses are
maps and map applications of all kinds related to King County government, including interactive map viewers like iMap and Parcel Viewer as well as downloadable maps such as bicycling routes.
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Web Resource
OpenStreetMap is a digital map of the world created by volunteers and is free to use under an open license. You may search the map as well as sign up for an account that allows you to add data to the map.
OpenStreetMap is a digital map of the world created by volunteers and is free to use under an open license. You may search the map as well as sign up for an account that allows you to add data to the map.
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Web Resource
The University of Texas at Austin has digitized more than 11,000 map images covering all areas of the world. Helpful information about viewing and printing these maps is included in the Maps FAQ.
The University of Texas at Austin has digitized more than 11,000 map images covering all areas of the world. Helpful information about viewing and printing these maps is included in the Maps FAQ.
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Web Resource
Two types of digital topographic maps are available from the United State Geological Survey (USGS)—US Topo maps (2009-present) and USGS Historical Topogra...Show more
Two types of digital topographic maps are available from the United State Geological Survey (USGS)—US Topo maps (2009-present) and USGS Historical Topographic Maps (1884-2006). US Topo maps are produced from GIS databases, while the Historical Topographic Maps include digitized versions of all editions and all scales of USGS standard topographic quadrangle maps from the period 1884-2006. Both are available to download as PDF documents. US Topo maps have data layers that can be selected or deselected, while the Historical Topographic Maps are static images.
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