1953 Map of Blue Ridge Summit

About this map

The Mason and Dixon Line serves as the focal point of this mid-century survey, dividing the mountainous terrain between Maryland and Pennsylvania. This landscape is defined by the steep ridges of Catoctin Mountain and the Western Maryland railroad, which threads through the high passes near Blue Ridge Summit and Highfield. The map reveals a complex of social and military infrastructure, from the sprawling Victor Cullen State Hospital near Sabillasville to the Fort Ritchie Mil Res on the western edge. To the south, the Catoctin Recreational Demonstration Area preserves the wooded slopes around Cunningham Falls, showing a network of organized camps like Camp Airy and Camp Peniel that reflects the era's focus on public outdoor recreation and land management.