Using Pictorial Maps

(London Theatreland 1915). "The Westminster Press" have exploited me, for the Underground Railway Company, who bid you now come to the Theatre Land - To one of the theartes - Drawn by the hand of MacDonald gill. 1915.

Pictorial maps are also called illustrated maps, panoramic maps, perspective maps, bird's-eye mpas and goepictorial maps. See Wikipedia: Pictorial maps.

Pictorial map of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania from1897 by Thaddeus Mortimer Fowler & James B. Moyer.

It is necessary to view these maps at magnification to see the tremendous amount of detail. I became fascinated by pictorial maps from a map published by the Arizona Highways magazine from a map published in 1940 by George M. Avey. That map is still being published and sold by the Arizona Highways magazine.

There are thousands of these maps for places all around the world. The Cannonsburg map above shows the houses and even the outbuildings:

I would suppose that many genealogists would think that this type of map was nothing more than a novelty. But the perspective and historical views can often clarify details about the places where your ancestors lived. In any event, it is probably a good idea to lighten up once and while and add a little variety to the cloistered life of the seasoned, research genealogist.

Here are some websites with maps and/or explanations about the maps.

George Glazer Gallery
David Rumsey Map Collection
Biblio.com Pictorial Maps - United States
Library of Congress Map Collections