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1903 Map of Boston Bay

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Boston Bay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1909
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1909

About this map

Nahant and its connected islands dominate the coastal approach in this early twentieth-century survey of the Massachusetts shoreline. The intricate maritime geography of Boston Harbor is meticulously detailed, showing the defensive placement of Ft. Warren on Georges Island and the lighthouse at Minots Ledge L.H. guarding the southern reaches. The landscape reflects an era when coastal rail lines like the B. R. B. and L. R.R. and the Boston and Maine R.R. were essential for connecting shore communities from Winthrop to Cohasset.

Inland, the preserved wild space of Lynn Woods contrasts with the industrial growth of Peabody and Salem. The map documents a complex system of navigational aids and landmarks, such as Telegraph Hill in Hull and the various Life Saving Stations (L.S.S.) that once patrolled these often treacherous waters before modern GPS. This document captures the harbor's transition from a strictly military and commercial hub into a region of growing residential suburbs and seaside retreats like Nantasket.