The maps produced by the Sanborn Map Company, originally created for the purpose of assessing insurance costs, continue to provide some of the most comprehensive coverage of cities and towns in the United States, including detailed plans of streets and buildings dating from the late 1800s for more than 12,000 towns, including communities in Maine.

Groups attending this session will learn about the history of the Sanborn Map Company and the making of these maps. Be sure to choose your favorite corner in the downtown area of your town and see how it changed from 1884 to 1921. We will keep an eye out for the appearance and disappearance of roller skating rinks, covered bridges, ice houses, Chinese laundries, railroad round houses, woolen factories, paper mills, and more.