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Map Activities: Sanborn Maps

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Eastern Illinois University

Charleston, Illinois

Mattoon

Coles County

Illinois

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Reading Sanborn Maps

Look at the following key for the Sanborn Map. Colors are used to help distinguish between different types of buildings. What do the different colors tell you about the buildings?

Now look at this 1919 map of the Charleston Square. What kind of materials are most of the buildings made from? Why?

click to enlarge

Sanborn Maps also provide information on what buildings were used for. What types of buildings are around the square? What other types of information can you find on this map?