All the maps are public domain and, although many are too large to do so, may be printed by users. At this site from the U.S. Census Bureau, you can download maps with titles like 1990 Population Distribution in the United States. You can also play around with the Tiger Map service and generate detailed maps of your own - sure to be a hit with budding geographers and map buffs. This interactive map site is great for the child who left her atlas at school or who just wants to find her favorite cousin's hometown. Map Quest can provide directions from point A to point B, pinpoint a street address, or show you a whole country.
Kids can trace their route and look up attractions along the way.
As a rule, the newly created NIMA funnels most of its maps and images to the military. But the site also provides information to civil users. This Library of Congress site is rich in content and easy to use, offering more than 4.5 million old and new maps. Search by keyword or browse the sections. Once you find the map you need, you can zoom in or out, adjust window size and then download it for later viewing.