Maps
Maps of the Berkeley Area Available Online
Below are digital links to some hard-to-find ancient maps of Berkeley and the area that was to become Berkeley.
One of the earliest maps of Oakland and what would become Berkeley. Berkeley now incorporates much of what is labeled as plots # 51, 53, 55-71, & 74-94.
1874 - Map of Berkeley showing the property of the Berkeley Land and Town Improvement Association1875 - University of California Berkeley Map
Entitled Strawberry Valley
This is a link to an interesting commercial website with the ability to view the Oakland-Berkeley areas (and many other places, too) as they looked in 1878. Plus the site has the ability to overlay the historic maps over a modern google map of the same areas. The library makes NO guarantees about purchasing from the website.
1878 - East Bay1884 - East Bay1956 - East Bay1890 - Map of Berkeley1906 - Map of Berkeley1905 - San Francisco Bay Area1915 - San Francisco Bay Area1926 - University of California Berkeley Map1926 - San Francisco Bay Area
Maps in the Library
The Central Library has many historic maps of Berkeley, some cataloged, some not. Most cataloged maps with a location of "Berkeley History Room" can be found in the Berkeley History Room in the wooden map case between the two doors. Several large (mostly uncataloged maps) are located in the metal mapcase in the Central Library's Reference Desk Office. Call 510-981-6148 for a History Room appointment to view these maps.
Cataloged Maps in the Library's Collection
Some Interesting Commercial Sites
The websites below document changes made over time in the Berkeley area. The sites show Oakland-Berkeley areas (and many other places, too) as they looked in 1878, with the ability to overlay the historic maps over a modern Google map of the same areas. The library makes NO guarantee about purchasing from the website.
Historic Aerial Images 1946-2005
This brings you to the main website. Enter "Berkeley, CA" to zoom to Berkeley. The followings years are available: 1946, 1958, 1968, 1980, 1988, 1993, 2000, 2002, 2005.
1878 to Modern Overlay - Southwest Berkeley1878 to Modern Overlay - Southeast Berkeley1878 to Modern Overlay - Central Berkeley1878 to Modern Overlay - Northwest Berkeley
Berkeley Property / Tract Maps
The Berkeley History Room has a handful of 19th- and early 20th-century tract maps. Some are in the mapcase behind the Reference Desk, some in the Swingle Collection. Make a History Room appointment by calling 510-981-6148 to view these often fragile maps.
Some that are available for online viewing include:
Located in what is now downtown, bounded by Allston Way, Atherton Street (a street that does not exist anymore, lying one block to the East of Fulton Street), Bancroft Way, and Shattuck Avenue.
Located in North Berkeley, bounded by Cedar Street, Grant Street, Virginia Street, and Hamilton Street (now known as McGee Street).