HOWTO: download USGS maps
![Image](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUgBPEZylfjZa2vhbnpcrmVD6hN0SLEbGkQzK9MKf89qVkHpkJZ-EoL3k-72ltwE_Bb4jhDXDCX69qr15LVUXt3CiDBLdmYeul3kfcSVc6jevzmWBaIMDCiH8Zf89HGZgT0Bwn4TE-M_w/s400/overview.gif)
I had an old post for this, but they changed the look about a week later and now they've changed how the whole thing works. So here is a new one. USGS makes their maps available for free in PDF format. This collection includes historical maps as well as the current set in various scales. Once in a while I claim I am wandering up a peak to see if I can find a benchmark that is on a 1905 map. It isn't that I have some magnificent collection of maps, brought together by a grandparent and parent and kept up by myself, filling an entire basement. It's just that I downloaded the historic map and gave it a look over to see if it had anything interesting. I had an older version of these instructions, but the interface has changed significantly, so this needs updating. First step: Go to the map locator . This will lead you to this rather nondescript page: Now find the region where you want to download maps . This can be done by navigation dragging the map around a