Frequently Asked Questions: Maps, Geography

The cartographic collections of the Library of Congress include over 650,000 map sheets published by the Sanborn Map Company. The majority of public domain sheets have been digitized and are available on our website. 

You can view and download the digitized maps the Library holds on the Sanborn Maps Collection website. It can be easier to search for specific states, counties, or cities using our Sanborn advanced search. More information about the collection and how to use it can be found in our Fire Insurance Map Research Guide.

Currently, all sheets published before 1929 are in the public domain. Sheets that are not in the public domain will not be scanned or added online until the copyright has expired. You are welcome to make an in person visit to the Geography and Map Reading Room to view physical copies of these Sanborn maps.