Historic

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps Online

RenovateDSM — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 11:06:46 -0700

The State Library of Iowa has online access to the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for cities throughout the state, including Des Moines. The Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps were created to assist insurance agencies in determining insurance risk for individual buildings. The originals consist of bound books, indexed by street address range, that map out property lines, building footprints, and construction type.

Historically, insurance companies relied on these books to underwrite policies. Today, precise actuarial tables take into account a broader variety of structural and owner characteristics, and the Sanborn maps are used primarily in historical research - they remain one of the most complete accountings of the urban built environment available.

Through the State Library of Iowa, the Sanborn maps from 1884, 1891, 1901, 1906, and 1920 (with updates into the '50s) are available online. The earlier maps, up to 1906, only cover a small portion of the current Des Moines city.

In order to access the maps online, you must register for a FREE State Library of Iowa card number. The administrator will e-mail you your assigned access number within a few days.

Once you have your library card number, use it to log in to http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/services/resources/sanborn-login". Simply follow the instructions for accessing the maps for the town you are interested in. You will probably have to zoom in on the first few pages (which are the index) to find the address you are looking for.

What Did My House Used To Look Like?

RenovateDSM — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:58:56 -0800

[contributed to RenovateDSM by Jennifer Irsfeld James, MAHP]

Architect-designed houses rare. More commonly built by builders – and may have evolved over time. Especially for 19th-century houses, may have started with a cottage that was expanded over time.

Sanborn Maps

Look for the footprint of your house on the Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, available online to Des Moines Public Library card holders.

The Sanborn company produced these detailed plans for use by fire insurance companies and fire departments during a time when fires were a common hazard.

When Was My House Built and Who Lived There?

RenovateDSM — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:51:54 -0800

[contributed to RenovateDSM by Jennifer Irsfeld James, MAHP]

These two questions can often be answered via the same research route. An important piece of the puzzle is to determine when the house was built – what’s listed in the assessor’s database is not always accurate. A lot of the history of a home is the history of the families who have lived there.

Researching Your Home's History - Introduction

RenovateDSM — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:44:19 -0800

[contributed to RenovateDSM by Jennifer Irsfeld James, MAHP]

Researching houses in Des Moines is often a treasure hunt for clues. Juicy tidbits about a home’s history reside in resources such as city directories, county deeds, and old newspaper clippings.

Researching Your Home's History

RenovateDSM — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:38:44 -0800

One of the great joys of owning an old home is the sense of history that accompanies it. This history can help guide sensitive renovation projects, establish a connection with the past, and construct a greater understanding of the building's unique character.