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The CUNY Mapping Service has been working with the NY Public Library’s Map Division to add historical maps to the OASIS mapping site.  To start, we’ve integrated maps of lower Manhattan from 1775 and 1817 (plus the famous Viele map).

The goal is to enhance the already impressive work of the NYPL “map warper” project by showing the historic maps in relation to the current street grid.  As it turns out, the 1775 and 1817 maps provide some helpful context for the 18th century ship that was recently unearthed at the World Trade Center construction site. 

For example, when you zoom in on the Liberty/Cedar Street block on OASIS (enter "140 Liberty Street" in the address search), the maps show that in 1775 there was a pier and shoreline cutting through the area where the ship was found.  By 1817 this was all solid land extending to West Street and slightly beyond.  Use OASIS's dynamic transparency tool so you can easily fade between both maps and see the transition before your eyes.

Background information and a brief tutorial are available at the OASIS wiki and the Spatiality blog.