Archive for category: Historic Cartography

Historic Cartography

Historical Maps of Nova ScotiaMaps convey geographic information about places and help us to better understand topography,  environment, culture and more.

Cartography is the art and science of making maps is an old profession that has been practiced since ancient Babylonia times. Back them, most maps were created for navigation purposes and to help depict territorial regions.

Canada is a relative young country (when compared to others) and thus experienced many years of European exploration that resulted in the creation of many maps that tried to show part of the world that had not been mapped before.

The “Historic Cartography” section of our site was created to explore the many great sources of vintage cartography in Canada. From detailed hand drawn maps by early explorers whom created and documented some of the earliest spatial representations of Canada to maps that focus on nature, the north, and our people.

The following pages listed below are related to Historic Cartography …

Canadian opendata

Canadian Open Data and Free Geospatial Data

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Over the past few years canadiangis.com/ has been highlighting and promoting various cities and provinces in Canada that have done a great job providing data and applications to the public. We created this page a few years ago to collaborate links of all the open geospatial data info (sites that offer data downloads at no cost and without restrictions), fee based geospatial data, online web mapping applications and other great sources of geospatial information (including National, Provincial and Regional levels). This comprehensive list of open geospatial data, fee based geospatial data, web mapping applications and cartographic products is a valuable asset to many people (... we get hundreds of emails and requests regarding "Where can I find data for ...?") so we continue to update it with new information and sources of Canadian data sets.
Vancouver Historic Maps and Plans

Vancouver Historic Maps and Plans

The City of Vancouver Archives contains over 4000 Vancouver historic maps and plans that have been repaired, restored, scanned, and made freely available to the public to use. The collection is ...
1778 Isle de Terre-Neuve Map

1778 Isle de Terre-Neuve Map

1778 map of Newfoundland (or Isle de Terre-Neuve in French) by explorer and cartographer James Cook provides a detailed and historically significant depiction of the island.
Fortress of Louisburg Maps

Fortress of Louisburg Maps

Recently we purchased some old maps at a yard sale, and one of the old map books contained a tattered map featuring the Fortress of Louisbourg that we scanned, cleaned up in photo-shop and then reproduced. While searching for the date and source of our map print we also noticed that there have been several old Fortress of Louisbourg maps created and have included a few the links here to share with others ...
Alberta 1921 map

1921 Map of Alberta

Historic map of Alberta taken from Putnam's Handy Volume Atlas of the World that was published in 1921
Explore nearly 150 years of Kingston History using Maps and Aerial Images

Explore nearly 150 years of Kingston History using Maps and Aerial Images

The Snapshot Kingston online mapping application allows people to explore nearly 150 years of Kingston History using Maps and Aerial Images. See how this application is helping citizens better appreciate their history and geography ...
History of Canada in 10 Maps

History of Canada in 10 Maps

A History of Canada in 10 Maps consists of several fascinating stories behind some of the people and maps that helped define Canada.
Historic Map of Prince Edward Island

Historic Maps of Prince Edward Island

Historic Maps of Prince Edward Island that you can download include ...
City of Saint John Maps, Plans and Historical Data

City of Saint John Maps, Plans and Historical Data

The Saint John maps collection includes an interactive atlas from 1875, compiled from official hand drawn plans and surveys. You will also find an interactive map of Historic Coastline and Fortifications and scanned copies of Murdoch-Lingley Survey Plans from 1920. Find out how you can download and use maps and images from the Saint John Historical Maps collection ...
1898 Vancouver Panoramic View

1898 Vancouver Panoramic Map

The 1898 Vancouver Panoramic Map provides an oblique look at the City of Vancouver looking from the north. There are also pictorial representations of buildings, industrial activity, various boats and vegetation. Streets, names of buildings and businesses are labeled, as well as the locations of the City foundry, machine works and more. Check out this historic look at Vancouver ...