Federal Government Sources for Historical Maps
U.S. Geological Survey
Historical topographic maps from the early 1900s to present can be viewed and downloaded using the
National Map Download Client.
- Zoom into the location you are interested in (using search box or navigating within the map)
- Select "Historical Topographic Maps" from the side menu
- Select the Data Extent you want (7.5 x 7.5 minute and 15 x 15 minute are most commonly used) and File Format (GeoTIFF or GeoPDF)
- Click "Search Products"
- View or download the map you're interested in
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Find maps and nautical charts of Oregon’s coast, estuaries and larger, navigable rivers. Many charts
date before 1900. From the Historical Map & Chart Collection search page:
- “Select Point on Map” tool OR “Enter a Geographic Place Name” search box (try “Coos Bay” to see how the site will guide you to a choice of coded geographical locations)
- Alternately, scroll down to see title keyword search box (try “Umpqua”)
- Click "View Results" on the location callout
- Preview or Download the maps or charts you're interested in
Note: Search results can be filtered by source type (e.g., “nautical charts”) or year published by clicking on the column headings.
Bureau of Land Management
These maps, hand-drawn by surveyors hired by the United States General Land Office, were originally
made to document the land claims made by settlers to this region. Though they can vary in detail, they are a rich cartographic resource showing the location of homesteads, roads, buildings and landforms. The majority of the maps date from 1852-1910.
The easiest way to access the maps is to use the map viewer provided by the BLM
- Click on a grid square on the map for the location you are interested in
- Select a map from the section “Survey Plats” (the date is in the third column)
- Click "View" to open a high-resolution scan of the map
You can also search the BLM's General Land Office Records.
