How to Research Where to Go

[alabamadan]

OK guys and gals. I've got my MD on the way and I've got some obvious places to go in mind such as around parks, old existing houses, spots where it's easy to tell where an old house way, etc... My question is about how to find those less obvious places.

I recently read a story about a guy who went to a couple of places that had been picnic areas/parks, old home sites, army encampments, ferry crossings, etc. Today these places were completely overgrown and "wild." How'd he ever find these places to look? It seems to me that this is where you'll have the best chance of finding old coins and relics. At least that what this guy was pulling. He was pulling out coins and relics from the late 1700s and lots from the 1800s.

I'm lead to believe that it takes scholarly research to identify these places. Furthermore, they're probably "virgin" metal dectection areas. How does one find them?

 

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[Monty]

I get a lot of infomation on old sites from the local and state historical societies.

 

[lonewolfe]

I get a lot of infomation on old sites from the local and state historical societies.

Research is the "key" and it don't come easy and or free in most cases. Not necessarily any large money cost either but, painstaking research cost a lot of time, and effort. Library, historical society, museums, etc. These places are just a start, and are loaded with information.

I've sifted through 1000s of old newspaper articals on micro film, etc. and have done all sorts of research through books, maps, internet, etc. etc. It's what you do in the off season to ready yourself for the warmer seasons to detect and find good places to hunt. (At least I do/have done).

Good luck,

HH

Lonewolfe

 

[PrizmIV]

Im also from da al what city u from huntsville here 8)

 

[alabamadan]

Birmingham

 

[gregl01]

HI, I HAVE BEEN USING OLD TOPO MAPS TO LOCATE HOMES THAT ARE NOW GONE. tHESE OLD MAPS TELL ALOT ABOUT AN AREA SUCH AS SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND GRAVEYARDS. yOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU'LL DISCOVER!!!!
HH
GREG

 

[alabamadan]

Where do you find these old topo maps?

 

[gregl01]

I LIVE IN THE NORTHEAST AND DISCOVERED AN AWESOME WEBSITE http://historical.maptech.com COVERS MANY OLD QUADRANGLE TOPO MAPS FOR THE NEW ENGLAND STATES. A LOCAL LIBRARY SHOULD HAVE OLD MAPS FOR YOUR AREA. ALSO LOOK IN GENEOLOGY WEBSITES. JUST A FEW I'VE USED.
HH
GREG

 

[alabamadan]

Great site! If only they had the SE included.

 

[gregl01]

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SHOULD HAVE IT ANY TIME NOW.
HH
GREG

 

[alabamadan]

Mine should have been delivered today. I'll play with it this weekend. It was on backorder.

 

[gregl01]

hey LD, printing is a problem with these maps. I found that right click and saving them and then sending them to an imaging program you can manipulate the size. I can print certain sections that way and/or blow them up to see detail. Absolutely the best website of its type that I've found so far.
Good luck!!!!
HH Greg

 

[TOWcritter]

Once you have the topo's, download "Terra client" It shows you the aerial photo (zoomable) that you can overlay a topo on! Excellent FREE programi

 

[Kent in AL]

Hey Alabamadan,

Refer to my post a few months ago about searching the USGS site for historical sites:

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,4367.msg22631.html#msg22631

Kent

 

[DBugR]

I just joined tonight, but thought I'd add something as well. I see that several have added info about the USGS map locations online. Those should really be helpful. Check out this site as well and I hope it helps. http://terraserver-usa.com

Richard

 

[pepperpump]

Very helpful links!!!
Pepperpump