I was looking for where to find old charts. I am thinking perhaps NOAA, but I do not know if they have an archives. And by old I mean around the 1950's.
This is a very helpful site, not just nautical charts but some interesting old maps of settlements.
oh yeah, when you enter your search the results will come up on the bottom of the page, just scroll down, otherwise it looks like nothing happened.
Bottomdweller beat me to it. The NOAA site would certainly have most charts that were produced. Certainly, you could also go to local library. I have found many old charts at the library that you cannot find online.
Map rooms of large universities may be another source for you. Here on the Left Coast, the UCLA map room and Scripps Institute of Oceanography in San Diego are excellent sources.