Google Earth goes back in time
Posted by 1337g33k on November 14, 2006
See the world as history’s cartographers once saw it. A new batch of Google Earth overlays covers the globe with richly detailed historical maps.
The Rumsey collection includes 16 maps. Among them you’ll find a 1790 world globe, a 1680 map of Tokyo, and an 1814 map spanning the Pacific Ocean to the Mississippi–courtesy of Lewis and Clark.
To view these new old maps, you’ll need the latest version of Google Earth (use the program’s check-for-updates feature if you’re not sure you have it). In the layers section, select All Layers, then look for Featured Content > Rumsey Historical Maps.
Pardon me while I scoop my jaw off the floor. This may just be the coolest Google Earth feature ever. I absolutely love historical maps, and there’s never been a better way to view and interact with them. Thanks, Jatin!— Rick Broida
