Sanborn maps--colored, lithograph maps of over 12,000 cities and towns across the United States--were originally used by fire insurance underwriters to assess fire risk in urban structures. Highly detailed and set at a very large scale, Sanborn maps are an invaluable tool for conducting historical research in fields ranging from genealogy and urban studies to social history and public health.
UMD's collection of print Sanborn maps is part of the Maryland Map Collection and is accessed through the Maryland Room in Hornbake Library. The print collection is limited to maps of Maryland and the District of Columbia.
