Maps. Old maps

[scooter748driver]

Sorry for all the questions! Hope this isn't verboten to ask. Researching a few possible sites for my first relic hunts and trying to avoid just wandering around for miles hoping to stumble upon something.

Is there a good online source to access maps from the 1850'2-60s? I don't mind subscribing or paying for access if that's required. i understand that some maps of this type might be available from resources like state colleges, etc. but unfortunately I don't see myself being able to make a trip to one of the larger NC colleges to see. So if there is a source for access online that'd be ideal.

How do you successful hunters orient yourselves to areas of interest using modern maps? Sure there are some landmarks that don't change much like rivers, etc., but how do you ID old home sites/plantations, old roads that would have been used in campaigns, etc.?

Thank you

 

[MWood1841]

not sure where your hunting, but you can look up Edward Alexander. He is a contributor for Emerging Civil War and a cartographer. He specializes in battlefield maps. Pretty sure he has helped American Battlefield Trust with their modern day overlays of CW battle sites. His website should pop up for you if you look him up.

Good luck to you. Its getting harder and harder for relic hunters to get access to older family lands.

 

[ErnieMac]

I've attached a link to the War of the Rebellion Atlas Plates. Accurate representations of battle sites and road networks at the time of the War.

War of the Rebellion: Atlas Plates 1-60 | OSU eHistory

ehistory.osu.edu

 

[UCVRelics]

Sorry for all the questions! Hope this isn't verboten to ask. Researching a few possible sites for my first relic hunts and trying to avoid just wandering around for miles hoping to stumble upon something.

Is there a good online source to access maps from the 1850'2-60s? I don't mind subscribing or paying for access if that's required. i understand that some maps of this type might be available from resources like state colleges, etc. but unfortunately I don't see myself being able to make a trip to one of the larger NC colleges to see. So if there is a source for access online that'd be ideal.

How do you successful hunters orient yourselves to areas of interest using modern maps? Sure there are some landmarks that don't change much like rivers, etc., but how do you ID old home sites/plantations, old roads that would have been used in campaigns, etc.?

Thank you

NC has a great collection of historic state maps which is just what you need.

North Carolina Maps: Home

 

[LafayetteCountyDigger]

I live in Oxford and I got all my maps from ole miss as they have a large collection of old civil war related maps

 

[WScott]

You could try the Library of Congress: Civil War Maps. I've used it and they are very helpful.

 

[infomanpa]

How do you successful hunters orient yourselves to areas of interest using modern maps? Sure there are some landmarks that don't change much like rivers, etc., but how do you ID old home sites/plantations, old roads that would have been used in campaigns, etc.?

Thank you

I use the overlay function in Google Earth.

 

[scooter748driver]

I use the overlay function in Google Earth.

Overlay function? Not familiar with that. Can you explain (PM if easier). Thanks!

 

[EJ Zander]

Historic Aerials: Viewer

www.historicaerials.com

It has old aerial photos, topos and does overlay/ comparisons.
Topos usually go back to early 1900s, aerials to the early 1950s.
Useful to see old roads and landmarks.

 

[UCVRelics]

Overlay function? Not familiar with that. Can you explain (PM if easier). Thanks!

The one thing that will help the most is talking to the old locals about the old roads, RR etc.

 

[infomanpa]

Overlay function? Not familiar with that. Can you explain (PM if easier). Thanks!

It allows you overlay a historic map on the Google Earth satellite image and then adjust the transparency of the overlay map so you can correlate the historic features with the modern features. You usually have to manually resize the overlay map to match it up.

 

[scooter748driver]

Ah! Thanks. I'd like to try that, just need to find pertinent old maps to overlay.