Historic US Geological Survey Maps of New York

[ZippyTheChimp]

The United States Geological Survey began a topographical atlas of the United States in 1882. The New York area surveys were done in 1888 - 1900. The maps were produced as Quadrangles of 15 minutes (of a degree). The web images divide each quadrangle into 4 parts (nw, ne, sw, se). Each image is about 1 - 2 megs in size. The multiple dates are updated issues of the same maps.

The Brooklyn quadrangle is here. From that page, there are links for Harlem and Staten Island. The three cover the New York area from southern Westchester.

The maps are topographical, but all streets are shown (not named). Railroads are included.

Index of USGS Maps Of New England

[NYatKNIGHT]

I could stare at these all day.

[ZippyTheChimp]

I stitched some of the segments into full maps, and what's striking is, except for most of Manhattan and the original city of Brooklyn, how undeveloped the rest of the area was only 100 years ago.

[NYatKNIGHT]

Unbelievable. Queens is mostly barren, even Morningside Heights looks uninhabited, though there are significantt changes from 1891 to 1900. Then there's the natural shorelines, the amount of wetlands, the railroads everywhere, and all the old place names. Very cool.

[Brier]

Thanks for the information I think I was there looking for two hours they were all great. I just never knew they were there. Learn something every day right. :lol: