Getting Started

Before you can begin creating your own custom maps, you will need a free Google account. Sign in using your Google username and then head to Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps). Now click on the My Maps link at the top of the page.

Click Create new map.

In the My Maps sidebar, enter a title and description for your map and choose whether you want the map to be public or private. You can click the Save/Saved button at anytime during your map creation process. If you’re adding lots of points and content, saving regularly during the editing process will protect you from losing your work should something happen to your system while you’re working.

Moving over to the map, you can use the zoom and directional tools to find specific locations.

Now click on the Placemark tool and drag it onto the map at the location you want to mark.

After you drop the placemark icon onto your location, a small editor window appears where you can include a title and description for this location. When finished, click OK to save this Placemark.

Adding Photos from Flickr

If you have photos in Flickr that you would like to include in your placemark’s information box, go to that photo and choose the Small size on the Available sizes page. Now, copy the HTML in the link box below the photo.

Return to your placemark editor and select the Edit HTML option, then paste the link code into the Description box. You can include text, links and photos with your placemark. Click OK when finished.

In addition to plain text and HTML editing options, you can use the Rich text editor – and its handy toolbar – to edit your description. This is especially useful if you want to include links in your text.

You also have design and color options for the placemark icon to use on your maps. Click on the icon image in the information box to display the default icons selection.

To change the icon, just click on your choice from the selection window. Note that this will only change the selected placemark.

In addition to defining placemarks, you can also define boundaries and draw lines on your maps. To create a boundary, select the boundary tool then click at points designating changes in direction around the object’s boundary until you return to the beginning point. Each of the little boxes in this example represents a click of the mouse while defining the perimeter. Once the boundary is complete, the entire area will be filled with your chosen color and an editing window appears to enter the title and description of this object.

Notice in place of the object icon, you have a box showing the current fill color. Click on that color box to make changes to the line and fill colors and opacity levels.

The Line tool works in a similar fashion except that there will not be a fill area or color.

Sharing Your Map

Once you have added all your placemarks and boundaries to your map, click on the Done button in the sidebar. You will now see an Edit button in the sidebar which will allow you to return to edit mode at any time to make adjustments to your map.

At the top right corner of your map are a set of tools for printing, sending or linking to your map. You can also view it in Google Earth. Click on the Link icon to copy direct links or the code to embed your map on your web site or blog. Before you copy the code, click on the Customize and preview embedded map link at the bottom of this sheet.

This popup window appears allowing you to choose the map size and zoom level before you copy the HTML code. This is the only way you’ll ensure that "what you see is what you get" when you embed your map.

Note that your blog system must support the use of iframes inside a post for this to work. It has been successfully tested on both WordPress and Blogger.

Here is the result embedded in a WordPress post.

You’re now ready to create and share your own custom maps showing the locations of your ancestors’ homes, migration routes as they moved from one location to another, burial locations and any number of other placemarks. Google offers many more options to add value to your map creations so spend some time experimenting to see which might support your needs. The Maps Help page (http://maps.google.com/support/?hl=en) offers additional reference material to make the most of Google Maps.

Good luck and good mapping!