Large Scale Central

Sanborn maps

Modeling
#1

Devon’s Hecla Mine thread made me realize that maybe many of you don’t know about the Sanborn maps. The Wikipedia page (Sanborn maps - Wikipedia) provides a good history of them and what they were used for.

For us modelers, they are an invaluable resource for both building locations and size, and track layout.

Take, for example, this map of Canal Street in Philadelphia.

It shows all the trackwork, and all the buildings, both in location and size.

The site takes a bit getting used to in order to navigate, but there’s a ton of valuable information in them.

2 Likes
#2

As a followup, sometimes you can hit Street View and have a look around

#3

I agree they are an awesome resource! I have been molesting them for many years now. However you forgot the disclaimer warning

“THEY ARE A HUGE RABBIT HOLE AND WILL CONSUME MANY HOURS IF NOT CAREFUL!!!”

#4

I second rooster on this one t, they can become a time consuming hobby themselves. But for a prototype modeler they are a huge resource. My Hecla build would be a guess and by golly attempt to understand the photos of the mine I am looking at. But thanks to them I know what everything is. And since the Sandborn maps were updated pretty regularly you can also follow the changes in an area.

#5

Something to watch out for in regards to railroad tracks on these maps. The railroad tracks aren’t always 100% right. Or even close. From what I’ve read the map makers focused on the buildings and could care less about the track arrangements. Sometimes it was even made up. Or so I’ve been told.

Another useful tool is old tax assessor’s information. I was recently told that a New Deal program allowed a bunch of cities to get tax assessor’s information cataloged and “officially” recorded.

1 Like
#6

I agree with Craig; the Sanborn maps were made for their fire insurance calculations, not architectural or mapping purposes. So, not necessarily to scale. But very helpful to kinds of buildings, their basic shape, rough dimensions, and their relative positions. I’ve used them a lot over the years in my research and mine model planning.

Another resource is the ICC (Interstate Commerce Commission) Valuation Records, a lot of it done in the 1915-1920’s, to get railroad rates across the country on an even par. Their maps are very precise as to track alignment, though they don’t convey much about non-railroad buildings and other features.

I was able to get a set of map scans for the V&T through the NV State RR Museum, and know of other sources for the companion handwritten reports. I don’t know how one would get them for other RR’s. But for the maps and a lot of related other materials the ICC came up with, here’s a good starting point:

2 Likes
#7

Actually from my findings the tracks are usually spot on and have helped me locate certain things. “NOW” arrangements can vary year to year as you know already? However you can go to the next year up or back on the Sanborne Maps if you are fortunate enough to be able to do such. The arrangements do change from my findings though.

1 Like
#8

Kinda reviving and old thread. In my challenge project I have enlisted the help of Sandborn fire maps to help me identify some of the details and history of my building. In doing so I have leaned a bunch about what is actually written on these maps. There is a lot of specific detail that I frankly didn’t have any clue what I was looking at. They have a lot of symbols and abbreviations. But its all really code. Once you have the Key to these maps the information really unfolds.

I recomend anyone using these that you make sure to get a list of the abbreviation online as well as a key to the colors and notations

For example I wanted to know more about the building adjacent to the Burke. Its a blue building with a red front. That means it is stone or cement construction with a brick front. It has a solid line across the front which indicates it has an Iron door. It is a single story, 10 feet to the roof line and has some sort of fire proof roof like metal, asbestos, or tile. It is labeled as a Hardware Warehouse. And with a ruler one can scale it out pretty well to its dimensions.

Another example should the church I am interested in. From what can be gained is that it is a single story building for the main building with a shingle roof. It lists the height of the main building. But then it separates out the steeple and lets us know that it is 2 story and gives its separate height.

So I encourage people who are looking to model early period buildings get online and get the Sandborn maps and learn how to read them. Not only is it good information for modeling it also is just intresting to learn about the buildings in an area.

#9

I might be wrong on something. When the map says “roof line” in reference to a height, I assumed this was to the peak. I am now thinking this is no the peak but to the eves. Does anyone know. Looking at it in 3D the buildings look to squatty for it to be the peak.

#10

I think the height is to the interior ceiling, which would be close to the eves. Remember these are fire insurance maps. What information is critical to creating a insurance claim?

#11

You may very well be right Craig. And for whatever its worth the ceiling and eve height would be as close as I would ever need it to be and makes way more sense proportionally than the peak.

#12

Well there’s this Roofline - Wikipedia