A limited selection of pre-1923 maps are available from other states, including:
The Library of Congress has a resource guide available to assist you with using Sanborn maps. Relevant sections include:
LOC Geography and Maps also have an orientation to their fire insurance maps collection. The recorded webinar runs just over an hour.
The EMU Library's ProQuest subscription is more comprehensive in its coverage than the LOC digitized collection, but maps appear only in black and white. Color is necessary if you are concerned with the building materials used in construction (e.g., yellow indicates frame construction, red is brick construction, etc.). Consider your needs prior to accessing one or the other.
Cities consist of many volumes. Keep in mind that not all volumes are chronological from 1.
Know the general location of your property within the city and then try to find that location on the "General Index to Volumes" or "Graphic Map to Volumes." Note that appropriate indices may not always appear in Volume 1, as the maps expanded and were subsequently revised with city expansion. Try to find a significant date in the history of the property and look for the volume closest to it.
If you are unable to find the map that you need in the collections available, Berkeley publishes a Union List of Sanborn and other fire insurance maps that will list other holdings in Michigan.
