Land records · Parcel maps · October 6, 2026
How to Find Historic Aerial Photos of a Property
How to find historic aerial photos: USGS EarthExplorer, USDA aerial archives, county GIS layers, Google Earth Pro history, and university map libraries.
How to find historic aerial photos of a property usually means checking a handful of public archives. In the United States, federal agencies have flown aerial photography since the 1930s for farm programs, mapping, and planning. The USGS EarthExplorer site, the USDA’s aerial photography archive, county and state GIS imagery layers, Google Earth Pro’s historical imagery tool, and university map libraries cover most needs. Older photos can show when a house was built, where old roads, barns, ponds, or fill areas were, and how land use changed over decades. This page is general land-records background, not legal advice.
Main sources
| Source | Typical coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USGS EarthExplorer | Many decades of aerial frames | Free search; many images downloadable |
| USDA Farm Service Agency aerial archive | Agricultural photos since the 1930s | Prints and scans by order |
| County or state GIS | Orthophotos, often 1990s onward | Often free in parcel viewers |
| Google Earth Pro historical imagery | Roughly 1990s onward, some older | Free; easy time slider |
| University map libraries | Local collections, sometimes older | Many digitized online |
| Commercial historic aerial sites | Compiled imagery across years | Some free viewing, paid downloads |
Using USGS EarthExplorer
EarthExplorer lets you draw an area on a map, pick datasets such as aerial photo single frames or national high-altitude programs, and filter by date. Results show footprints and thumbnails. Many images can be downloaded at no cost; others can be ordered. Expect some trial and error, since older frames are not always georeferenced and you may need to match landmarks.
USDA farm photos
The Farm Service Agency’s aerial photography field office holds a large archive of photos flown for agricultural programs, especially in rural counties. These are excellent for farmland history. Ordering usually requires identifying the county, year, and frame from index sheets. Recent statewide imagery from the National Agriculture Imagery Program is widely available through GIS portals.
County and state GIS
Many county parcel viewers include past orthophoto years as layers. Look for a layer list or a “historic imagery” menu. State GIS clearinghouses may host statewide imagery from multiple years. These are georeferenced, so you can overlay parcel lines, though lines are approximate. See aerial photo vs lot lines.
Google Earth Pro
The free desktop version of Google Earth Pro has a historical imagery clock icon that steps through available dates. Coverage before the 1990s is limited, but it is the fastest way to see recent changes like additions, pools, and tree clearing.
Libraries and archives
University and state libraries often hold local aerial collections, sometimes from county agencies or private mapping companies. Many have digitized sets with online viewers. Local historical societies may have oblique aerial photos taken from small planes. Sanborn fire insurance maps complement aerials for urban areas. See sanborn maps.
What you can learn
- Approximate construction dates for buildings and additions.
- Old driveways, roads, and field lines.
- Former structures, dumps, or fill areas.
- Changes in shorelines, streams, and wetlands.
- Past land uses relevant to environmental reviews.
Aerials can help estimate when a house was built. See how to find out when a house was built.
Limits
Photo dates may be approximate, resolution of older images is low, and parcel lines drawn over photos are not surveys. For legal questions, use recorded documents and licensed surveyors.
Bottom line
Historic aerial photos are available from USGS EarthExplorer, the USDA aerial archive, county and state GIS imagery, Google Earth Pro, and library collections. Use them for property history and land-use clues, but rely on recorded documents and surveys for boundaries. Find county GIS and records offices via the Platbookmapper map.
How to find historic aerial photos FAQ
Where can I find old aerial photos of my property for free?
USGS EarthExplorer, county GIS viewers, and Google Earth Pro are common free sources.
How far back do aerial photos go?
Federal aerial photography in the U.S. dates to the 1930s for many areas.
Can aerial photos show when a house was built?
They can narrow down a time range by showing when a structure first appears.
Are property lines on aerial photos accurate?
No, overlaid lines are approximate. Use surveys for boundaries.
What is the USDA aerial photo archive?
A large collection of agricultural photos flown since the 1930s, available by order.