San Francisco Peninsula, c/o Wikimedia Commons
Smithsonian Magazine has recently uploaded a series of interactive maps that help Americans to explore the topography of various cities – comparing the way they once looked to the present day. Check out all of their maps here: America’s Great Cities, Before and After. A couple of my personal favorites:
What Did San Francisco look like in the mid 1800s? – The interactive map allows you to compare the mid 19th century city to the modern, sprawling urban center. Explore the expansion of the city by the bay!
Compare New York City 1836 to Today – This interactive map compares New York City of 1836 to the megalopolis of today. You can explore the evolution of city neighborhoods, the park system, and more.
Other maps include Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., and Denver. All of the maps are very cool, interactive, and allow an overlapping comparison of urban development in these regions.
