About this project

Layers of the Past is an interactive tool that makes available nearly 200 georeferenced historical maps of New York City. The project allows people to explore the city's evolving geography, infrastructure, and neighborhoods over time by searching, filtering, layering, and comparing map layers.

Whether for researchers, educators, students, or curious NYC residents, the tool aims to help uncover patterns in urban development, understand historical contexts, and connect past and present landscapes. We hope that Layers of the Past demonstrates how historical cartography can inform contemporary understanding of NYC from a multitude of perspectives and inspire new approaches to its future.

We plan to continue adding additional maps and features over time, and will be releasing new maps on a quarterly basis after our initial launch on September 12, 2025.

This project is maintained by the Urban Conservation team at the New York Botanical Garden. If you have any questions about the project or data, please reach out.