Modern day digital apps that offer a map of your neighborhood or city are fine if you just want to get from here to there.

But if you want to dig down into the history of a city, nothing can replace the look, feel and gold mine of information found in real old maps.

The folks at the SFO Museum at San Francisco International Airport know that and have dug into the incredible David Rumsey Map Collection for a new exhibition filled with maps and photographs that tell the story of the origins and development of San Francisco.

Here are a few samples:

The City of San Francisco: Birds Eye View from the Bay Looking South-West 1878
Charles R. Parsons (1821–1910). Courtesy SFO Museum

Airview of City Showing Trafficways 1948 – courtesy SFO Museum

San Francisco: From the David Rumsey Collection will be on view in Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport through April 3, 2013.

Here’s a link to an online version of the map exhibition.

While you’re at SFO Airport, be sure to check out some of the other exhibitions offered up by the SFO Museum, especially the Japanese Toys that will be displayed through April 2014 in Terminal 3.

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