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1899 Map of Block Island

Name: 1899 Topographic Map of Block Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1899
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1899

About this map

New Shoreham encompasses the entirety of this island landscape, as documented in an 1886 survey by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. This coastal study highlights the maritime importance of the area, featuring the Block Island N.L.H. at Sandy Point and the Block Island S.E.L.H. near the southeastern cliffs. The interior is a dense network of freshwater and salt bodies, including the expansive Great Salt Pond and smaller basins like Sachem Pond, Middle Pond, and Fresh Pond.

Elevations such as Beacon Hill and Pilot Hill provide a topographic view of the terrain before modern development. The map also records the presence of the Block Island Station and a L.S. Station, vital landmarks for nineteenth-century navigation and safety. From Dickens Point to Old Harbor Point, the survey captures a complete picture of the island's shores and its settlement patterns at the end of the century.