Short answer
Yes. There are several strong examples of successful historical map digitisation projects, including regional initiatives in Central Germany, the large-scale David Rumsey Historical Map Collection, and Europeana’s map and geography collections. Together, they show that successful digitalisation combines high-quality imaging with good metadata, online access, and discoverability.
Detailed answer
Yes. Good examples of successful historical map digitisation already exist, and they show different models of success. One example is the project on the digitisation of historical maps from Central Germany and the Middle East, which selected about 1,000 maps for digitisation and online access. This example is valuable as it demonstrates the preservation and enhanced accessibility of a focused regional collection for research and teaching.
A second major example is the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection. Its online collection now provides access to more than 147,000 maps and related images, with search and viewing tools that make large-scale historical cartographic material much easier to explore. This is a strong model for digitalisation because it goes beyond scanning and supports discovery, browsing, and reuse in a well-developed digital environment.
A third example is Europeana. Its Maps and Geography theme and related map collections bring together digitised cultural heritage objects from many institutions across Europe. This matters because it shows the value of aggregation: users do not have to search one institution at a time but can discover historical maps through a shared access point.
These examples show that successfully digitising historical maps involves more than just creating image files. It also depends on structured metadata, stable online access, and platforms that allow maps to be found, viewed, and connected to wider cultural or research contexts.
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