Not much in this wide world is more interesting than old maps. I find they give one a much more palpable sense of history than any other medium. And thanks to Mark Hurst’s Good Experience Newsletter I found my town of Maynard, Massachusetts as it stood in the year 1879.
This map is one of many digitized by The Library of Congress, which has an enormous collection of maps. If one is so inclined one can even order a reproduction of a map for a hefty fee. The LOC is an outstanding web resource; I’m feeling so good about it I may add a little extra to my taxes this year.