Using Sanborn® Fire
Insurance Maps to Teach
U.S. History
GIS Research and Map Collection,
Ball State University Libraries
Sanborn® Fire Insurance Maps are known for giving detailed, accurate
information about the history of buildings and other structures. Ball State
University Libraries has a varied collection of the insurance maps in
numerous formats available for education and learning:
The GIS Research and Map Collection (GRMC) features Sanborn maps of various Indiana cities
and St. Louis, Missouri, and Boston, Massachusetts.
The Archives and Special Collections houses the entire collection of Muncie Sanborn maps.
The Muncie Digital Sanborn® Map Collection is available on the University Libraries’ Digital
Media Repository located at http://libx.bsu.edu. This Collection includes maps from 1883, 1887,
1889, 1892, 1896, 1902, and 1911.
Sanborn® Fire Insurance Maps of various cities in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee and
Chicago, Illinois, are available on microfilm in the Microforms Collection of University Libraries,
located in Bracken Library, first floor east.
Sanborn® Fire Insurance Maps are an ideal source of information about the
structure and use of buildings. Sanborn maps consist of a uniform series of
large-scale (one inch=50 feet), detailed maps depicting the commercial,
industrial, and residential sections of cities. The maps were produced by the
Sanborn Company beginning in 1867 and were designed to assist fire
insurance agents in determining the degree of hazard associated with a
particular property.
Data: The Sanborn maps show the size, shape, and construction of dwellings,
commercial buildings, and factories, as well as fire walls, the locations of
windows and doors, sprinkler systems, and types of roofs.
The maps also indicate widths and names of streets, property
boundaries, and house and block numbers. The nature of the business
conducted in the facility, the number of stories and story heights of the
building, and wall thickness are also provided.
Other special hazards such as gasoline or oil tanks are also marked.
The locations of water mains are shown, giving their dimensions.
Additionally, features such as water tanks, hydrants, pipes, and fire alarm
boxes are noted on the maps.
Sanborn® Fire Insurance Maps of Muncie, Indiana, provide an excellent
classroom resource for teaching United States history. The maps, dating back
to 1883, can be used to identify the growth and evolution of industries and
structures over time. Students working individually or in small groups can
analyze specific areas of the maps to interpret changes over time, researching
various social and economic factors affecting those changes.
Example: The Sanborn® Fire Insurance Map of Muncie, Indiana, from 1883
includes numerous blacksmiths, liveries, feed stores, carriage shops, and
harness and leather shops. Nearly every dwelling and most businesses also
had a stable at that time. Students of history could research a specific area of
the map on the subsequent Sanborn maps of Muncie—up to 1911—to analyze
the changes in these equine (horse-related) structures and businesses. The
Sanborn maps of Muncie from 1954 available in Archives and Special
Collections could be used to supplement this learning project for more modern
business establishments.
Introduction: Ask students to imagine and discuss how the city of Muncie
looked over a hundred years ago. What would be different? What buildings
would remain intact?
Presentation: Review basic map skills, and explain the history and use of
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps with students.
Application: Ask individual students or small groups to analyze change and
the use of spaces in an assigned city block using sequential Sanborn maps of
Muncie.
Closure and Assessment: Discuss the evolution of different industries over
time. What has happened to most of the specialty shops? What type of
businesses no longer exist? What time period exhibited the most dramatic
changes? Document and discuss the changes on a master list compiled by the
entire class.
The key or legend for the Sanborn maps displays the meaning of the colors and
symbols found on the maps. (Teachers may wish to review the Sanborn maps
tutorial available on the GRMC Web page to become more acclimated with the
symbols and colors:
http://www.bsu.edu/libraries/collections/gcmc/tutorials/MapsandCartography
Sanborns.pdf.
Blacksmith
Dwelling
Stables
This portion of an 1883 Sanborn map of Muncie could be used to introduce students
to life in historic Muncie. Specialty shops line Washington Street. Homes
(Dwg=dwelling) are built next to businesses like the Plow and Wagon Shop
(compared to zoning laws of today). Stables are found throughout the town—
indicated by the “X” drawn over the building. Blacksmiths are also found
throughout—usually in a green-colored building.
Wagon Shop
The Plow and Wagon Shop on the 1887 Sanborn map of Muncie has now changed
ownership and is listed only as a wagon shop. Some of the buildings on Washington
Street have been replaced. A mill race has been added to the White River. Students
may be asked to investigate the purpose of a mill race for conducting energy from
the water.
Livery
Harness
The Muncie map from 1889 reveals more changes in the landscape: A livery has
been built on the Corner of Gilbert and Walnut Street. Again students may need to
investigate the purpose of a livery—the care, feeding, and stabling of horses for pay.
The cooper shop has disappeared from the block numbered “5.” Do students know
what task a cooper performed? Also a harness shop has been added on Washington
Street.
1883
1902
The same portion of the 1902 Muncie Sanborn map reveals drastic changes in the
landscape since the first map of 1883. The pink-colored buildings show how brick
has become the predominant construction material for most of the area. A
substantial brick building featuring various shops along High Street has replaced the
frame dwellings and woodworking shops of 1883.
Wagon Shop
Harness and Bicycles
On the 1902 Muncie Sanborn map the wagon shop/blacksmith is actually labeled
“dilapidated,” perhaps a sign of the times to come. A new harness shop on
Washington Street also repairs bicycles. Also a listing for a plumber makes its first
appearance on the maps, as well as a dentist on Washington Street.
Implements
Changes in the landscape on the 1911 Sanborn map of Muncie are drastic: The course
of the river has been changed—the mill race has disappeared. The High Street
bridge emerges across the river. The Muncie electric light plant has become a
massive brick structure. A carriage factory replaced dwellings on High Street near
the corner of Gilbert Street, and the previous “dilapidated” wagon shop appears as a
frame blacksmith building.
The portion of the 1954 Muncie Sanborn map displays the importance of the
automobile in the society. Only one stable is shown in the alley between High and
Franklin streets. This map is covered with gas stations, automobile sales lots, body
shops, tire sales, and parking garages and lots. Parking lots had not been shown on
the previous maps of Muncie.
The same area of Muncie is captured using Google Earth. None of the original
buildings of 1883 remain. Discuss as a class the evolution of the city of Muncie,
chronicling the most notable changes in the lives of the residents over the last 126
years. Consider how the city will continue to change over time. What businesses
will flourish? How is the city managing the issues of the environment, safety, and
the growth of various industries?
This lesson focused on one small area of Muncie, Indiana. Other maps of Muncie and
numerous other cities may be used from the collection of maps available from Ball State
University Libraries.
Other lessons are available on the Cardinal Scholar page at
http://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/. Browse the list of resources by clicking on “Creator” on
the main page and choose “GRMC.”
The GRMC Web page also provides access to other lessons and maps tutorials at
http://www.bsu.edu/library/collections/gcmc/.
Please contact the staff of the GIS Research and Map Collection at 765/285-1097 for more
information about this lesson.