Remote Map Research at NYPL: Especially for New York

For our many researchers who investigate specific sites, blocks, or neighborhoods in New York, there may already be familiarity with our online resources for fire insurance and property maps.  For historical information from the mid-19th century to the early 1920s, freely accessible without a library card, there are Sanborn and similar publishers’ (Perris, Bromley, Hyde, Robinson) maps showing New York City building footprints, construction materials, and some land use information, digitized in full color, from NYPL’s collections.  There are many ways to access these, including the list of links (referenced on a previous tab) by borough and date, and the Map Warper search by location.  

For current NYC property information and maps, some useful freely accessible databases from sources outside the Library include Oasisnyc.net and the NYCityMap.  

Worth mentioning again (also referenced on the tab for "Research Guides") is the list of links to variously-sourced websites of New York City interactive maps.  

Also worth a look, for browsing or searching, is a miscellaneous variety of maps of New York City and State, including counties, in NYPL’s Digital Collections.

Map Division librarians and curators are available via email to answer research-specific questions.  One can also make an appointment for a virtual consultation.