Maps

The map collection, with over 2000 maps, plat books, and atlases, covers the Kansas City region, Missouri, Kansas, the Midwest, trails, railroads, and early maps that identify Native American lands. They also include eastern states and rare maps of the early western hemisphere. Most maps are indexed in our digital collections and many of these records include digitized images. Additional atlases and maps can be found by searching the online catalog.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

The Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps were created for fire insurance companies to assist them in assessing the risk of insuring a particular property. Today, however, they provide an important source for the study of the development of urban America beginning in the late 1800s. See our Sanborn map page for information about the maps, a tutorial on how to use the maps, an online exhibit, and more than 1200 images of the Kansas City Sanborn maps in our digital collection. A selection of local Sanborn maps, along with real estate atlases, platbooks, and other historical maps, can be browsed online with the Fire Insurance Maps Online portal. Sanborn maps for other cities and towns in Missouri and Kansas may be accessed through the Digital Sanborn Maps, 1867-1970 database (Kansas City Public Library card required to view from home).

Selected Kansas City Atlases and Plat Books