This site pulls the historical maps that are applicable to the area or region you’ve focused on and works with Google Maps to overlay them as accurately as possible. See instructions.

The boundaries of locally designated historic districts in Boston that require design review for exterior alterations to buildings.

The Digital Bedrock Geologic-GIS Map of Minuteman National Historical Site and Vicinity, Massachusetts is composed of GIS data layers and GIS tables, and is available in the following GRI-supported GIS data formats: 1.) a 10.1 file geodatabase (mima_bedrock_geology.gdb), a 2.) Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) geopackage, and 3.) 2.2 KMZ/KML file for use in Google Earth, however, this format version of the map is limited in data layers presented and in access to GRI ancillary table information. The file geodatabase format is supported with a 1.) ArcGIS Pro map file (.mapx) file and individual Pro layer (.lyrx) files (for each GIS data layer), as well as with a 2.) 10.1 ArcMap (.mxd) map document (mima_bedrock_geology.mxd) and individual 10.1 layer (.lyr) files (for each GIS data layer). The OGC geopackage is supported with a QGIS project (.qgz) file. Upon request, the GIS data is also available in ESRI 10.1 shapefile format. Contact Stephanie O'Meara (see contact information below) to acquire the GIS data in these GIS data formats. In addition to the GIS data and supporting GIS files, three additional files comprise a GRI digital geologic-GIS dataset or map: 1.) this file (mima_geology.gis_readme.pdf), 2.) the GRI ancillary map information document (.pdf) file (mima_geology.pdf) which contains geologic unit descriptions, as well as other ancillary map information and graphics from the source map(s) used by the GRI in the production of the GRI digital geologic-GIS data for the park, and 3.) a user-friendly FAQ PDF version of the metadata (mima_bedrock_geology_metadata_faq.pdf). Please read the mima_geology_gis_readme.pdf for information pertaining to the proper extraction of the GIS data and other map files. Google Earth software is available for free at: http://www.google.com/earth/index.html. QGIS software is available for free at: https://www.qgis.org/en/site/. Users are encouraged to only use the Google Earth data for basic visualization, and to use the GIS data for any type of data analysis or investigation. The data were completed as a component of the Geologic Resources Inventory (GRI) program, a National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Division funded program that is administered by the NPS Geologic Resources Division (GRD). For a complete listing of GRI products visit the GRI publications webpage: For a complete listing of GRI products visit the GRI publications webpage: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/geologic-resources-inventory-products.htm. For more information about the Geologic Resources Inventory Program visit the GRI webpage: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/geology/gri,htm. At the bottom of that webpage is a "Contact Us" link if you need additional information. You may also directly contact the program coordinator, Jason Kenworthy (jason_kenworthy@nps.gov). Source geologic maps and data used to complete this GRI digital dataset were provided by the following: Boston College and U.S. Geological Survey. Detailed information concerning the sources used and their contribution the GRI product are listed in the Source Citation section(s) of this metadata record (mima_bedrock_geology_metadata.txt or mima_bedrock_geology_metadata_faq.pdf). Users of this data are cautioned about the locational accuracy of features within this dataset. Based on the source map scale of 1:24,000 and United States National Map Accuracy Standards features are within (horizontally) 25.4 meters or 83.3 feet of their actual location as presented by this dataset. Users of this data should thus not assume the location of features is exactly where they are portrayed in Google Earth, ArcGIS, QGIS or other software used to display this dataset. All GIS and ancillary tables were produced as per the NPS GRI Geology-GIS Geodatabase Data Model v. 2.3. (available at: https://www.nps.gov/articles/gri-geodatabase-model.htm).

This public map service contains points and polygons representing information from the Massachusetts Cultural Resource Information System (MACRIS) database and related records on file at the Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC), including the Inventory of Historic Assets of the Commonwealth, National Register of Historic Places nomination forms, local historic district study reports, local landmark reports, and other materials. The MACRIS database and the layers within the MACRIS Maps web application are updated regularly as new information is submitted and added, and as the accuracy of earlier versions of the datalayer is improved. Three datalayers are being made available to the public: The Inventory Points layer contains the locations of buildings, burial grounds, structures, and objects (e.g. statues, monuments, walls). The points layer is symbolized to indicate the most common historic designation types: 1) National Register of Historic Places, 2) local historic district, 3) both National Register and local historic district, 4) Preservation Restriction, 5) Massachusetts Historic Landmark (MA/HL) and 6) inventoried but not designated with one of the previous designations. Less common designations are not symbolized in MACRIS, but are included in the Designations attribute field.The Inventory Areas polygon layer includes areas and districts symbolized in MACRIS in a similar manner to Inventory Points. Another polygon layer, Towns, possesses a binary “y” or blank field to indicate whether a town has a survey pending digitization. Please note that new and updated information is added to MHC files daily, and that there may be considerable lag time before this information is reflected in MACRIS or in MACRIS Maps. Map information for “completed” towns may not reflect the most current information on file with MHC. For additional information, users may consult the source records, forms and maps that make up the official Inventory of Historic and Archaeological Assets of the Commonwealth, on file at the MHC, Massachusetts Archives Building, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, during weekday business hours. No appointment is needed. For directions, see https://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/.See the metadata for more details.

These data were automated to provide an accurate high-resolution historical shoreline of Boston, Massachusetts suitable as a geographic information system (GIS) data layer. These data are derived from shoreline maps that were produced by the NOAA National Ocean Service including its predecessor agencies which were based on an office interpretation of imagery and/or field survey. The NGS att...

This collection of images depict Boston, Massachusetts, with particular emphasis on Dorchester Avenue. Some of the images contain photographs of the area, while others detail Dorchester Avenue's history using a timeline. The images are associated with chapters 1 through 4 of the PLAN South Boston Dorchester Avenue report, which contains the history, current conditions, outreach initiatives, goals, and objectives of a proposed plan to create a new mixed-use urban district in Boston, Massachusetts.These images are intended for use in the Storify a planning report tutorial, which details the process of creating a story in ArcGIS StoryMaps for the plan. The story includes maps and a scene that showcase the proposed district. The plan itself was created by the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA).

This layer is a digital raster graphic of the historical 15-minute USGS topographic quadrangle maps of coastal towns in Massachusetts. These quadrangles were mosaicked together to create a single data layer of the coast of Massachusetts and a large portion of the southeastern area of the state. The Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) obtained the map images from the Harvard Map Collection. The maps were produced in the late 1890s and early 20th century at a scale of 1:62,500 or 1:63,360 and are commonly known as 15-minute quadrangle maps because each map covers a four-sided area of 15 minutes of latitude and 15 minutes of longitude. A digital raster graphic (DRG) is a scanned image of a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) standard series topographic map. In ArcSDE the image is named IMG_USGS_HIST_COASTAL.

These data represent the presumed tidelands jurisdiction of MassDEP under M.G.L. c. 91 and the Waterways Regulations in 310 CMR 9.00.

With the exception of present-day marsh areas, a continuous line of approximate c. 91 jurisdiction can be obtained by using a combination of the “Jurisdiction,” “Contemporary High Water,” “Inferred Contemporary High Water,” “Inferred Historic High Water,” and “Landlocked Tidelands” datalayers. The “Historic High Water” and “Landlocked Tidelands” lines form the approximate landward and seaward boundaries of landlocked tidelands, which are not regulated by DEP.Please see the metadata page for this layer at the MassGIS website for more information.

Find Massachusetts health data by community, county, and region, including population demographics. Build custom data reports with over 100 health and social determinants of health data indicators and explore over 28,000 current and historical data layers in the map room.

Traffic-related data collected by the Boston Transportation Department, as well as other City departments and State agencies. Various types of counts: Turning Movement Counts, Automated Traffic Recordings, Pedestrian Counts, Delay Studies, and Gap Studies.

~_Turning Movement Counts (TMC)_ present the number of motor vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists passing through the particular intersection. Specific movements and crossings are recorded for all street approaches involved with the intersection. This data is used in traffic signal retiming programs and for signal requests. Counts are typically conducted for 2-, 4-, 11-, and 12-Hr periods.

~_Automated Traffic Recordings (ATR)_ record the volume of motor vehicles traveling along a particular road, measures of travel speeds, and approximations of the class of the vehicles (motorcycle, 2-axle, large box truck, bus, etc). This type of count is conducted only along a street link/corridor, to gather data between two intersections or points of interest. This data is used in travel studies, as well as to review concerns about street use, speeding, and capacity. Counts are typically conducted for 12- & 24-Hr periods.

~_Pedestrian Counts (PED)_ record the volume of individual persons crossing a given street, whether at an existing intersection or a mid-block crossing. This data is used to review concerns about crossing safety, as well as for access analysis for points of interest. Counts are typically conducted for 2-, 4-, 11-, and 12-Hr periods.

~_Delay Studies (DEL)_ measure the delay experienced by motor vehicles due to the effects of congestion. Counts are typically conducted for a 1-Hr period at a given intersection or point of intersecting vehicular traffic.

~_Gap Studies (GAP)_ record the number of gaps which are typically present between groups of vehicles traveling through an intersection or past a point on a street. This data is used to assess opportunities for pedestrians to cross the street and for analyses on vehicular “platooning”. Counts are typically conducted for a specific 1-Hr period at a single point of crossing.

Throughout history, government and industries have neglected investments in some neighborhoods, especially communities of color, who are more likely to have fewer resources.

Spring 2023

March 2025