1899 Map of Block Island

About this map

New Shoreham on Block Island is depicted here during the late nineteenth century, revealing a landscape defined by its maritime isolation and glacial geology. Surveyed by Marcus Baker and Henry Gannett, the topography is dominated by numerous small freshwater bodies like Sands Pond and Fresh Pond, scattered among the undulating hills. The nearly bifurcated island shows Great Salt Pond at its center, with the essential navigational aids of the era, including a L.h. (lighthouse) and L.S. Station (Life-Saving Station), marking the precarious coastline. The map records the early configuration of the town and the placement of high points such as Beacon Hill and Pilot Hill, which served as critical landmarks for both islanders and mariners navigating the Block Island Sound.