What is going on at Google? I think the company is planning to take over the Internet. Normally, I'd say that might be a bad thing; but in Google's case, they seem to be doing a darned good job of developing new services! The latest example is Google Maps.
I've always been fascinated by maps and, in recent years, by GPS satellite navigation and related topics. When MapQuest came out, I found myself using it often (MapQuest has been the major provider of online U.S. street maps on the Internet.) I have also checked out other online mapping services whenever I heard of them, but always went back to MapQuest. Now Google has created an online map service that I find is easier to use than MapQuest. It marries map technology and online telephone directories to Google's popular search engine service.
My own experience with the new service illustrates its usefulness. I am attending a genealogy conference in Portland, Maine, next month and need a hotel room. I went to http://maps.google.com and entered "hotels in Portland, Maine" in a query box. About two seconds later, a map of downtown Portland appeared on my screen with pointers to every hotel there. The conference hotel was one of those listed; so, it was super simple to see all the other hotels within walking distance.
All I had to do was click on a hotel name, and a pop-up window appeared, offering more information about that hotel, including a link to the hotel's own web site. One more click on that link, and I was looking at rates and availability information on the hotel's web site (not on Google).
A few minutes later I got to thinking about lunch, so I went back to Google Maps and entered "pizza in" followed by my ZIP code. A map appeared, listing all the pizza places within five miles or so, along with street addresses and telephone numbers of each. This is about as easy as it can get. Need to find a dentist in a hurry? Use the same sort of command: enter "dentist in " followed by your ZIP code. I even narrowed it down a bit by typing "dentists near" followed by my street address and then by my zip code. This shows all the dentist offices within a very few miles. I found that I could do the same for flower shops, gas stations, or Wal-Mart stores (enter "Wal-Mart near" and then your ZIP code).
OK, here is the fun part: I entered "genealogy near" followed by my ZIP code, and a map was displayed, showing 10 locations of genealogy interest. The locations included the New England Historic Genealogical Society in Boston, the Federal Records Center in Waltham, the American French Genealogical Society in Rhode Island, the nearest Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints-Family History Center, a genealogy store, and several professional genealogists, including two I had never heard of before.
I was a bit disappointed with one genealogy-related search that I tried. I wanted to find the location of a specific cemetery in Corinna, a small town in central Maine. I entered the cemetery's name followed by "Corinna, Maine." Nothing was found. Then I entered "cemeteries near Corinna, Maine." A listing appeared, but it looks like only cemeteries that have listed telephone numbers. The small cemetery I was looking for apparently does not qualify. I will concede, however, that the search results included the Corinna town office, and I know that a telephone call there will elicit the information I seek. When I did a search for "cemeteries near Dexter, Maine" (an adjacent small town), I was pleasantly surprised to see the Dexter Historical Society listed as a resource.
Google Maps has numerous other options for finding information. Right from the home page at http://maps.google.com, you can find a specific address, obtain driving instructions from one location to another, and more. I asked for driving directions from my ZIP Code to a ZIP Code in Salt Lake City, Utah. About three seconds later, turn-by-turn driving instructions appeared on screen for the 2,364-mile trip. Unlike most competitive services, Google Maps allow you to zoom in as well as pan in all directions, all by dragging with a mouse.
There is still more to Google Maps, but I suggest you go to this new service and try it for yourself. Make sure you place the mouse over a map, click and hold the mouse button, and then drag things around. Neat stuff!
You can find Google Maps at http://maps.google.com.
Now, on to Internet domination!
I hope that Mr. Eastman's experience with using "genealogy near [my zip code]" is more typical than mine. When I tried that search, I received several hits for neighboring counties. However, the search results did not include the local resources that I expected:
* The Sutro Library, one of the largest genealogy libraries in the U.S., which is a short walk from my home.
* The National Archives-Pacific Region, which is a 10 minute drive from my home.
* My nearest Family History Center, which also is a 10 minute drive.
I also searched for pizza (excellent results), bookstores (poor results), coffee shops (poor results), and bakeries (poor results). Of course, Google Maps is still in beta, and I am certain it will improve with time.
Posted by: Regina Gualco | February 21, 2005 at 02:50 PM
Unfortunately the first screen when you go to maps.google.com doesn't announce that it is only a beta at present, nor does it state that it only works inside USA at present, one has to go to the Help link & send feedback links respectively to find these bits of info.
Meanwhile I have wasted my time putting in Doncaster East (or postcode 3109) & just a message about no matches, without any explanation why until I explore other links & chance upon the correct link.
Posted by: Cedric | February 21, 2005 at 06:56 PM
I suspected that it would only be a USA thing when I read the article, thanks for letting us know Cedric, saves all us non USA people from wasting our time. I also agree that this should be stated "up front" as there have been a number of times I have wasted effort filling out forms etc to get something then find at the end the offer is for residents of the USA and Canada only.
Posted by: Graeme | February 21, 2005 at 07:46 PM
Had a few issues getting it to work in Mozilla's Firefox. I operate a tight leash on what I let browsers do automatically. With this, I needed to configure Firefox's Advanced javascript configuration and allow Firefox to "Change Images". Without that, NO MAP!
Posted by: Andrew | February 21, 2005 at 08:33 PM
It looks as if they intend eventually to cross the pond. By zooming in and out I managed to get into England and even to look at Nuneaton, Warwickshire where I live. Towns are marked but no other details ie no roads, railways, water etc.
Best wishes
Dave
Posted by: Dave Watkins | February 24, 2005 at 08:10 AM
If you are interested in maps of the UK may I recommend multimap.co.uk which has the facility for superimposing Ordnace Survey maps translucently on aerial photos. The aerial photos are from the complet coverage shot as a Millenium project. Very useful where trees obscure roads etc.
If your interests are earlier may I recommend a visit to old-maps.co.uk which gives access to Victorian Ordnace Survey maps. These are in black and white as the originals were.
Enjoy
Dave
Posted by: Dave Watkins | February 24, 2005 at 08:27 AM
Several years ago, I bought a cheap ($10) disc named "Travel Maps USA" that is the best I have found for finding cemeteries. For instance, near Corinna, ME, I found a Nutter Cemetery, and a Chamberlain cemetery. South of Corinna, just below Rowe Corner is a Stuart Cemetery. This program was copyrighted by COSMI Inc in 1998. I would love to find a newer version, and I am not giving this one up.
Posted by: Pat Arrants | March 04, 2005 at 08:37 AM
Does that disk have the location of the Morse's Corner Cemetery in Corinna? It is on the Exeter Road. That's the one of interest to me. I have never found it on any CD-ROM nor online database. It is a fair sized cemetery in a rural location, probably 200 tombstones or so.
- Dick Eastman
Posted by: Dick Eastman | March 04, 2005 at 08:54 AM
Dick, the program map shows Morse Corners to be at the junction of Exeter Road and White Road, east of Corninna, but there is no cemetery shown.
Posted by: Pat Arrants | March 04, 2005 at 03:02 PM
Dick, you aroused my curiosity so I did a web search for "Morse Corner Cemetery" +Corinna, ME. It turned up an obituary for a man who died in 2000 and was to have a "Spring burial will be at the Morse's Corner Cemetery in Corinna." The man was Avon B. Woodard. The funeral home was Crosby and Neal, 61 Main Street, Dexter. The church receiving donations was Pleasant Street Christian Church, Pleasant Street, Corninna, ME 04928. I do hope this helps you locate the cemetery you seek.
Posted by: Pat Arrants | March 04, 2005 at 03:23 PM
Pat, than you for doing that. I must admit that I am a bit embarrassed that I did not explain why I was asking.
Actually, I am very, very familiar with that cemetery. In fact, I was there last Saturday. I own a cemetery plot there and will be spend eternity in the Morse's Corner Cemetery myself, alongside my parents, my son and a number of aunts, uncles and cousins who are also buried there.
Whenever looking at databases or maps of cemeteries, I always use the Morse's Corner Cemetery as a “test case” because (1.) I am familiar with it and (2.) because it has never appeared in any online database that I have searched in the past. I use that as a measurement to see if any new database perhaps has added new data that wasn't in the earlier services. That is why I was curious if the CD you have might mention it.
Thanks again.
Posted by: Dick Eastman | March 04, 2005 at 03:36 PM
By the way, I knew Avon Woodard. He was a friend of my father's.
Posted by: Dick Eastman | March 04, 2005 at 03:37 PM
I had fun doing it. I am always interested to see if this cheap disc has things not found elsewhere. It amazes me how many cemeteries it does have. I even found my very old family cemetery in Piney Flats, TN. Doing searches on the internet nearly always teaches me something.
Posted by: Pat Arrants | March 04, 2005 at 06:54 PM
Dick... I'm from Corinna, and am the secretary of the Corinna Historical Society... if anyone has questions that I could answer, I'd be glad to...
Posted by: Rich Meyer | May 30, 2005 at 02:31 PM
Hi Rich.
You and I should talk. I was born and raised in Dexter. My father was born and raised in Corinna, as were all my aunts and uncles. I am related to about half the town. As I mentioned earlier, I own a cemetery plot in the Morse's Corner Cemetery and expect to spend eternity there myself.
- Dick Eastman
Posted by: Dick Eastman | May 30, 2005 at 09:23 PM
hi Dick... 2005 6,7,8 only 4 years to respond. (googling myself)...
i'm still here. i'm home most of the time, altho now with good weather comiong, i like to be in the garden.
rich meyer
278 5669
Posted by: Rich Meyer | May 01, 2008 at 05:55 PM
Google Earth also has maps, including historical land use maps. I had a client whose family grew up in South Philly. I was able to "screen grab" a 1942 land use map superimposed over the current street map (you can adjust transparency) to show the coal yard where the grandfather recalled "borrowing" small amounts of coal over cold winters!
Posted by: Jane | February 18, 2009 at 12:05 PM