1984 Map of Barren Island

About this map

Barren Island sits at the heart of this orthophotomap, showcasing a landscape defined by the shifting boundaries between land and the Chesapeake Bay. The map reveals the intricate network of tidal waters, including the Barren Island Thorofare and Barren Island Gap, which isolate the island from Meekins Neck and the mainland of Dorchester County. To the west, the maritime history of the bay is marked by the Cedar Point Lighthouse (Abandoned) and the Hooper Island Lighthouse, providing critical navigational context for this stretch of the Eastern Shore. The presence of a Landing Strip and seawalls on Barren Island highlights human attempts to maintain a foothold on this fragile terrain. In the southwest corner, the boundary of the Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center at Cedar Pt marks the intersection of the mid-bay marshes with modern military aviation history.