1899 Map of Block Island

About this map

New Shoreham stands at the heart of this island study, reflecting a maritime landscape shaped by late 19th-century navigation and local agriculture. The interior is marked by numerous fresh and salt water bodies including Sachem Pond, Great Salt Pond, and Sands Pond, which define the island's unique hydrography. The presence of several light stations and life-saving facilities, such as the Block Island S.E. L.H. and a L.S. Station, underscores the critical importance of this location to Atlantic shipping routes during this era. High points like Beacon Hill and Pilot Hill overlook a coastline defined by prominent markers such as Sandy Point and Black Rock Point, providing a detailed view of the island before modern coastal development altered these traditional maritime and farming boundaries.