Fire insurance maps are detailed plans (scales usually 1:600 or 1:1,200 – 50 or 100 feet to an inch) showing:

• Building footprints
• Building material by color (adobe, brick, frame, metal)
• Height or number of stories
• Doors, windows, chimneys, elevators
• Address and lot lines
• Use (dwelling, hotel, church, chicken coop, etc.)
• Street widths, water pipes, hydrants and cisterns
• Ethnicity of the occupants (occasionally), etc.

While originally produced for insurance purposes, the maps are now useful in disciplines such as history, architectural history, ethnic studies, and urban archaeology.

• An overview of the Sanborn keys and colors is provided by the Library of Congress, see: http://www.loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps/about-this-collection/
• See the full key here.
• See the map legend here.
• For a more complete description, plus list of digital collections of Sanborn maps, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanborn_Maps

Sanborn maps held at Branner Library

In Searchworks, enter “insurance fire” as subject terms, and limit to map/globe.  The link here will pull up over 200 records of paper and/or microfilm maps.  Paper maps have the great advantage of being in color, so you can enjoy the full functionality and beauty of the originals.  Some digital maps, in color, are also available via http://www.davidrumsey.com.

Union List of Sanborn & other fire insurance maps

Fire insurance maps have been scanned and available for a number of states.  The list here gives an overview from each state.  The list to the left highlights specific states including California, Hawaii, Nevada, and New York.