Map Links

Geographic Information

CIA World Factbook

Contains information on each country's geography, people, economy, transportation, communications, and government.

Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

Contains information about almost 2 million physical and cultural geographic features in the United States and its territories. The site query form for the U.S. is located here.

GEOnet Names Server

Provides access to the National Imagery and Mapping Agency's (NIMA) database of foreign geographic feature names.

Mileage Calculator

The Rand McNally mileage calculator will help you determine the mileage between any two destinations. The website also provides directions.

United Nations Initiative on Global Geospatial Information Management

This organization is trying to set the agenda for the development of global geospatial information and to promote its use to address key global challenges.

Maps and Atlases

David Rumsey Map Collection - Cartography Associates

The David Rumsey Historical Map Collection contains to date over 8,000 maps online and focuses on rare 18th and 19th century North and South America cartographic history materials. Historic maps of the World, Europe, Asia and Africa are also represented.

Broer Map Library - Online Historic Map Collection

The Broer Map Library is a growing collection of thousands of online historic maps from around the world. It features a unique Historic Map Index in which you can search through over 60,000 historic maps at over 100 other online collections. The collection includes several native language atlases, historic road maps and topographical maps, and a number of military maps. A number of maps are viewable in Google Earth so you can compare the historic map with modern conditions.

University of Texas Map Collection

This site contains a multitude of online geography resources. Numerous world maps scanned from CIA publications are included, as well as city-, country- and state-level maps. Also included are guides of map projections, online glossaries, gazetteers, distance calculators, and more.

National Geographic: Maps

Provides access to dynamic maps and geographic data organized by physical, cultural and environmental themes.

Civil War Maps

The Library of Congress American Memory project's collection of Civil War Maps combines collections from the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division, the Virginia Historical Society, and the Library of Virginia. Approximately 2,240 Civil War maps and charts have been added to the New American Memory Collection.

Google Maps

Street maps and driving, cycling, pedestrian and public transit directions; satellite images and terrain information; user linked photos, webcams, and videos; real estate; and traffic information. Google maps is currently one of the most popular online mapping sites for 3rd party applications. New developments happen often.

Google Sky

Uses NASA photography to present the night sky. Zoom in on stars, planets, and the like. Some areas are in very high resolution. See infrared and microwave imagery. The Moon and Mars have similar interfaces to Google Earth that show landings and display information about physical features.

Google Earth

Both Google Maps and Google Sky have advanced features available when using Google Earth, a stand-alone, downloadable program. It's a fascinating tool, but can be difficult to work with on less than newer computers.

Indiana Geographic Information Council

Offers various Indiana GIS map projects online.

Indiana Spatial Data Portal 

This website connects to Indiana University's Massive Data Storage System (MDSS) which archives over 200 GB of Indiana geographic data. Included are the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Digital Ortho Photo Quadrangles (DOQQs), enhanced Digitaal Raster Graphics (DRGs) for Indiana, and Indiana vector datasets.

Atlases of the History Department at the United States Military Academy

Maps of battles and battlefields. The site is currently incomplete and in the process of updating, but still very interesting.

Harvard Geospatial Library

"A collection of 6,955 worldwide and regional geographic data layers, scanned historic maps and associated descriptive information that can be searched mapped and downloaded for use for use with your GIS software."

Maps Over Time

Overlay old maps of different cities in Massachusetts with new ones to see change over time.

Library of Congress American Memory Maps Collection

This site presents some online maps from Americana and Cartographic Treasures of the Library of Congress.

Hargrett Rare Books and Manuscripts Library Map Collection

University of Georgia's collection of more than 800 digital maps.

University of Minnesota-National Center for Earth-Surface Dynamics 3D Maps

Provides links to various 3D maps which may be printed, viewed on computer monitors, or projected.

TIGER: Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing system.

This geographic data can be combined with U.S. Census data to create custom thematic maps.

USGS National Atlas

The National Atlas is an interactive atlas of the United States. Data topics include information on geography, people, economy, transportation, communications, and government, geographic and statistical maps.

USGS National Map

The National Map is the product of a consortium of Federal, State, and local partners who provide geospatial data to enhance the public's ability to access, integrate, and apply geospatial data at global, national, and local scales. It provides free access to high-quality, geospatial data, imagery, and information.

Yale University Online Maps

The Yale University online maps collection includes imagery of the Dr. Jonathan Lanman Globe and Map collections, its antiquarian maps, and the Lada-Mocarski collection of European maps spanning the 16th century to 1853.

Other Sites Including Links to Map Library Associations

Institute for Historical Research

This site is dedicated to the history of cartography. Site includes a special section on thefts of early books and maps.

Old Maps Online

This site provides historical maps from around the world in a digital format.

Map and Geospatial Information Round Table (ALA)

Includes organizational information and publications.

North American Cartographic Information Society

The North American Cartographic Information Society, founded in 1980, is an organization comprised of specialists from private, academic, and government organizations whose common interest lies in facilitating communication in the map information community.

SLA: Geography and Map Division

Established in 1941, the Special Libraries Association Geography & Map Division focuses on all aspects of the production, procurement, processing, and utilization of geographic and cartographic materials and includes the professions of geography and map librarianship.

Western Association of Map Libraries

Independent association of map librarians and other people with an interest in maps and map librarianship. Includes the Map Librarian's Tool Box, WAML Archive Retention Guidelines and Schedule, and list of the association's publications.

GIS Analysis from the university of Chicago's Center for Population Economics

Historical state and country borders for GIS from 1820-1930. Also has ward and street maps for eight major cities.

Links last updated May 1, 2012 by Nancy Meuth.

Do you know of a good link to include here? E-mail srlucas@indiana.edu.