Historic Houston Maps

[TJones]

http://houston.craigslist.org/clt/223709922.html

[sevfiv]

neat, but 10 each? i don't think my best offer would come close to that - guess i'm a cheapskate

[TJones]

neat, but 10 each? i don't think my best offer would come close to that - guess i'm a cheapskate

Heh, thought it said $10 for the whole lot. That would be a deal. Yep, he'll never get $10ea. but $10 for the whole enchilada I can see.

[Mark F. Barnes]

Those types of maps are on eBay all the time for anywhere between $0.50 to $2.00, $10 is out of his mind, Link is dead, Maybe he sold out already!!!!!

[TJones]

Maybe he is a poster here, and saw what we said. D'oh !

[Pumapayam]

Maybe he is a poster here, and saw what we said. D'oh !

It's a novelty, I am sure if was curious to see a map what Houston looked like back in the day, I could find it on the internet, see it, and be done with my curiosity. Save myself 10 bucks!

[TheNiche]

It's a novelty, I am sure if was curious to see a map what Houston looked like back in the day, I could find it on the internet, see it, and be done with my curiosity. Save myself 10 bucks!

Yeah, you sure could. But that's not really the point. Otherwise, why would anybody buy well-known original artwork for millions of dollars if they could just as easily Google it and find it online? This is kind of the same thing.

I've got a collection of official Texas state highway maps dating back to 1937. I assembled it from Ebay purchases. Aside from the fact that they are primary source historical documents, the greatest value that I see in them is the cover art, and how it changes over time based upon popular influences.

[Pumapayam]

Aside from the fact that they are primary source historical documents, the greatest value that I see in them is the cover art, and how it changes over time based upon popular influences.

It is all about the cherubic women huh!

[TheNiche]

It is all about the cherubic women huh!

IMO those are the best. But I've only seen two maps with such women on it; both were in swimsuits, and one is shown in the initial post. I own the other, a 1971 state highway map.

[nativehou]

I was just in Canyon, Texas, and visited the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum there. One of the exhibitions was of "birds-eye" maps of Texas cities, primarily after the Civil War and until the early 20th century. I have seen maps like these before, but never knew they had a name and never realized so many were created.

At least two maps in the exhibition were of Houston and were quite interesting. I did some searching and found that they were from the Amon Carter Museum in Ft. Worth, which maintains http://www.birdseyeviews.org/index.php. Take a look. The two shown from Houston are from 1873 and 1891.

Here is one explanation of "birds-eye" maps:

"Bird

[musicman]

one of these is already in haif...somewhere.

[EastEnd Susan]

I was just in Canyon, Texas, and visited the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum there. One of the exhibitions was of "birds-eye" maps of Texas cities, primarily after the Civil War and until the early 20th century. I have seen maps like these before, but never knew they had a name and never realized so many were created.

At least two maps in the exhibition were of Houston and were quite interesting. I did some searching and found that they were from the Amon Carter Museum in Ft. Worth, which maintains http://www.birdseyeviews.org/index.php. Take a look. The two shown from Houston are from 1873 and 1891.

Here is one explanation of "birds-eye" maps:

"Bird

[tmariar]

one of these is already in haif...somewhere.

Here's the prior post.

The bird's-eye maps are great. And I love that the site you mention has made them interactive. I'd really like to find more of Houston - I'm pretty sure I've seen references to bird's-eye maps from other years here or elsewhere. (I've tried to collect links to old Houston maps I've found on the internet here.)

[musicman]

{I've tried to collect links to old Houston maps I've found on the internet here.)

great info. thx for the link.

[gonzo1976]

I have a couple of birds-eye view photos of downtown Houston that were taken in the 1930s and 1940s. It was part of this program that allowed you to look at such views of various major American cities. This was before the days of Google Maps or Google Earth.

I've thought about putting the pictures up on my blog, but I'm concerned about running into any copyright issues.

[nm5k]

Those can pretty pretty neat, but I prefer the actual panoramic

photo's.. There are many of both types at the library of

congress website. I've got a load of them on my hard drive.

I like the photo's, as you can see the actual people, horses,

cars, etc, in the pictures. There are a few of Houston. I've got all

of them I think, starting from about 1909, and onward..

They also have many other cities around the country and

world.

MK

[mkultra25]

I have a couple of birds-eye view photos of downtown Houston that were taken in the 1930s and 1940s. It was part of this program that allowed you to look at such views of various major American cities. This was before the days of Google Maps or Google Earth.

I've thought about putting the pictures up on my blog, but I'm concerned about running into any copyright issues.

Heights Camphouse BBQ (on White Oak between Heights Blvd. and Studewood) has an absolutely enormous blowup of a panoramic photo of downtown Houston taken by Bob Bailey in the 1950s hanging on their back wall. It's gotta be around four feet square.

[musicman]

Heights Camphouse BBQ (on White Oak between Heights Blvd. and Studewood) has an absolutely enormous blowup of a panoramic photo of downtown Houston taken by Bob Bailey in the 1950s hanging on their back wall. It's gotta be around four feet square.

Dot's at gulfgate has some large ones as well. these though are watercolored in from the original black and white photo

[tmariar]

Heights Camphouse BBQ (on White Oak between Heights Blvd. and Studewood) has an absolutely enormous blowup of a panoramic photo of downtown Houston taken by Bob Bailey in the 1950s hanging on their back wall. It's gotta be around four feet square.

Can't believe I hadn't noticed that before. I'll ask them if I can post a panoramic photo of the panoramic photo as was done with Luna/Venice Park.

[TheNiche]

Interesting how Galveston in 1871 had little lakes apparently disrupting the street grid west of 20th Street and south of Broadway. I did not know that. ...they're gone by 1885, though. I guess they got filled in. Looks like there was a lot of fill placed at the wharves, too.

[TJones]

Hi guys and gals. I need everyone's help on this. I tried going to FEMA on this one, but those goofs were no help AT ALL ! I was hoping maybe someone, ANYONE, might have a flood zone map for Houston, or at the very least the WEST side of Houston in the Bear Creek area, (Hwy.6 and Clay) area. Thank you in advance.

EDIT: Again, I need a map circa 1970's

[Original Timmy Chan's]

Hi guys and gals. I need everyone's help on this. I tried going to FEMA on this one, but those goofs were no help AT ALL ! I was hoping maybe someone, ANYONE, might have a flood zone map for Houston, or at the very least the WEST side of Houston in the Bear Creek area, (Hwy.6 and Clay) area. Thank you in advance.

Try Harris County Permits - 713-956-3000

They're the official Floodplain Administrator for Harris County. They may not have them readily available, but either they, or possible someone at Harris County Flood Control District (713-684-4000), are the best repositories I could think of. Unfortunately, maps that old have a way of getting lost.

Both Harris County and HCFCD have their own libraries. Maybe ask for the librarian or archivist at either or both places.

[isuredid]

Hi guys and gals. I need everyone's help on this. I tried going to FEMA on this one, but those goofs were no help AT ALL ! I was hoping maybe someone, ANYONE, might have a flood zone map for Houston, or at the very least the WEST side of Houston in the Bear Creek area, (Hwy.6 and Clay) area. Thank you in advance.

Here is the FEMA web site page to search maps

FEMA MAP SEARCH

Here is another. but I think this ties back into FEMA

TSARP

[TJones]

Here is the FEMA web site page to search maps

FEMA MAP SEARCH

Here is another. but I think this ties back into FEMA

TSARP

As I said, FEMA was no help. They only have the updated maps as of 6-18-2007. Thank you though.

[Ross]

Try te Harris County Flood Control District - they have maps going way back.

[devonhart]

Google has added a lot of Houston to their street views. You might want to check out your address old and and new.

The house I grew up in from 1961 to 1966 4114 Knotty Oaks, Google shows it as 4142, so you might have hunt the street for your house.

[TexasFreeway.com]

Here's one for discussion...

I am looking for a map of the Barkers Reservoir before the Corps took over the land. HCAD shows a network of "closed" streets as well as an abandoned railroad ROW. SOme of the old street ROW's are still visable via Google maps and others.

[kylejack]

There's a thread around here somewhere where someone took pictures of old foundations that were north of 10 and west of 6, and we looked up some historic aerials. I don't think we focused on the area south of I-10, though.

[kylejack]

Here's 1957. I see roads, but not a lot else going on here.

http://www.historicaerials.com/?poi=10075

[roym]

Here's one for discussion...

I am looking for a map of the Barkers Reservoir before the Corps took over the land. HCAD shows a network of "closed" streets as well as an abandoned railroad ROW. SOme of the old street ROW's are still visable via Google maps and others.

Is the map you're looking at available online?