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1956 Map of Anacostia

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Anacostia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Anacostia River and the expanding borderlands between the District of Columbia and Prince George's County define this mid-1950s landscape. Established institutions like St Elizabeths Hospital and the U S Navy Hydrographic Office sit alongside emerging residential developments such as Glassmanor and Silver Hill. The map records a significant concentration of federal and military infrastructure, including the sprawling Andrews Air Force Base and the U S Census Bureau.

Beyond the urban core of Anacostia, the geography is shaped by historical transportation corridors like Pennsylvania Ave and the Suitland Pkwy. Local life is anchored by numerous community landmarks, from the Rosecroft Raceway and Hyde Field to traditional gathering places like St Barnabas Ch and the Washington National Cem. The density of named schools and churches reflects the rapid post-war growth of the Maryland suburbs.