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1945 Map of Anacostia

Name: 1945 Topographic Map of Anacostia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1945
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1945

About this map

St Elizabeths Hospital and the sprawling military grounds of Camp Simms anchor the western edge of this 1940s landscape, where the urban character of Southeast D.C. transitions into the developing hills of Prince George's County. The map documents a pivotal era of growth along major corridors like Pennsylvania Ave and Suitland Road, showing a network of established neighborhoods such as Anacostia and Silver Hill alongside newer developments like District Heights and Morningside.

A significant concentration of commemorative spaces and local infrastructure is visible, including the Lincoln Memorial Cem and Washington National Cem. The rural roots of the area are still evident through numerous family-named landmarks like Gordons Corner, Phelps Corner, and Jenkins Corner, which pinpoint local intersections before the massive post-war expansion. The drainage of Oxon Run and Henson Creek provides a natural framework for the terrain as it rolls toward Surrattsville and Clinton in the south.