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Library of Congress Map Collections from 1500's
e03179 writes "A friend of mine stumbled across this
site from the US Library of Congress.
The website allows users to view maps that go all the way back to the 1500's (like
this one
of America in 1562). The maps have been converted to digital form (SID format
- viewer available here)
but are viewable in .GIF form
in your browser. I was able to look up my hometown during 1871 and see the church in which I'm getting married. Who thought the LOC could be so 31337?"
you are a pirate lost in time
Choosing the lesser of two evils is a choice for evil.
These maps aren't very good for directions. For example, the entire state of California is missing, and the United States isn't even recognizable. They may be fine for getting around Europe, but for use in the Americas, well, they're worthless.
So could you please tell me if they included a map for Palestine and Israel so we can settle this once and for all ?
I guess the hadn't discovered more then 256 colors in the 1500's
Religion is a gateway psychosis. -- Dave Foley
Contentental drift will have moved things around since these maps were drawn, it will be impossible to recognise features now.
Shame, I like maps.
I hope they respect the copyrights on those documents! Remember, sharing is stealing!
The SVG format hadn't been ratified 500 years ago, so some of the files would probably be unreadable in modern browsers.
This must be where MapQuest does all their data mining.... I always wondered why it told me to take so many non-existent roads..
Sigs? We don't need no stinking sigs!
My University has vanished! I found a map of Champaign, IL (I go to the U of I there...) ca. 1869 (2 years after the University was supposedly founded) and there's nothing there! The map shows farmland where all of the University buildings are! So, the question is, did the U of I really exist then, or are they just pulling my leg? I want answers!
Go on, go on! What happened after the overlay magic?
Wow, you mean Texas actually wasn't the center of the world back then? What a horrible unenlightened time that was. No wonder the map scale is not in Standard Texas Units.
Karma: Frotzed (mostly due to the Frobozz Magic Karma Company)
These maps aren't very good for directions. For example, the entire state of California is missing, and the United States isn't even recognizable.
I guess you must have missed the disclaimer: "When using this map, it's a good idea to do a reality check and make sure the road still exists, watch out for construction, and follow all traffic safety precautions. This map is only to be used as an aid in planning."
The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
Shame on you! Now go sit in the corner until you acquire a sense of humor!
How many of these map collections could fit on the head of a pin?
"Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
I love maps. Maps rock.
If anyone out there knows if there is a job market out there for geographers or cartographers, email me or post something. I'm in the career change mood.
wyattearp@mac.com
This is an off topic post, I know it, you know it.
Hmmm; the maps of Boston seem just about as good for getting around here as any I've seen at a bookstore recently....
1024x768 is no way NEAR full size! That's not even 14" diagonal, and the US is a couple of thousand MILES wide.
Next time get your act together.
We do not live in the 21st century. We live in the 20 second century.
"When asking taco why he uses .GIFs for all of the graphics on slashdot"
We don't care: we've all blocked images.slashdot.com to stop the adverts.