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1953 Map of Baltimore West

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Baltimore West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The western boundary of Baltimore city meets the suburban growth of Baltimore County in this mid-century portrait of a landscape defined by institutional holdings and cemeteries. The city’s expansion is visible along the corridors of Reisterstown Road and Liberty Heights Ave, pushing toward established communities like Pikesville and Catonsville. Large-scale social and religious infrastructure dominates the map, from the sprawling US National Cemetery and Loudon Park Cemetery to specialized facilities like the Industrial School for Girls, St Marys Orphanage, and Spring Grove State Hospital.

Transportation networks of the Western Maryland and Pennsylvania railroads cut through the terrain, connecting industrial pockets like the Brickyard near Middle Branch to the urban core. Recreational landmarks are equally prominent, featuring the Pimlico Race Track, Curtis-Wright Airport, and several green spaces including Druid Hill Park and Leakin Park. This era shows a city in transition, where the dense street grids of neighborhoods like Arlington and Forest Park begin to give way to the more open campus-style layouts of schools and country clubs on the suburban fringe.