1956 Map of Beacon Beach

About this map

Shell Island and Hurricane Island dominate the coastal barrier landscape in this mid-1950s survey of the Florida panhandle shoreline. The map documents a significant military footprint, with large portions of the land designated for Tyndall Air Force Base, including Camp Merrill and a substantial Restricted Area extending into the Gulf of Mexico. Historical settlements such as Cromanton and Beacon Beach are visible along the northern shore of the barrier peninsula, providing a record of local habitation before further coastal development. The eastern side of the quadrangle includes Marywood Cem and the intricate coastal inlets of Pearl Bayou and Freshwater Bayou. At the western edge, the entrance channel leads toward St Andrews State Park, a key landmark that anchors the protection of this shifting sandy terrain.