The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is May 2026)
Practical solutions for real genealogy research problems. Explore the new Field Guides
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are one of the most valuable yet underused tools in genealogy. Created between the 1860s and the 1960s, these highly detailed maps were designed to assess fire risk—but for genealogists, they offer something even more important: a visual reconstruction of the neighborhoods, streets, buildings, and communities where our ancestors lived.
They are essential for placing an ancestor in the physical world of their era, solving problems created by street name changes, and discovering the context of daily life. This Quicksheet explains how Sanborn Maps are organized, how to use them effectively, and where genealogists often overlook hidden information.
Download the Quicksheet
To obtain the six-page Quicksheet PDF with details about the site for easy reference, you can download it by clicking on the Download button:
For all the previously published Quick Reference Guides, click on QuickSheets.
If you use Quicksheets often, the Quicksheet Vault puts 390+ of them in one organized place — clean, printable, and easy to reuse whenever you need them. Whether you keep digital references handy or build your own genealogy binder, the Vault makes research simpler. Learn more about the Quicksheet Vault HERE