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1903 Map of Boston

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Boston
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1912
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1912

About this map

Boston Harbor and its surrounding coastal settlements appear in a state of rapid expansion at the beginning of the twentieth century. The industrial and military significance of the waterfront is anchored by the Navy Yard in Charlestown and the Marine Hospital in Chelsea, while defensive positions like Ft. Independence and Ft. Winthrop guard the inner harbor. The landscape transitions from the dense urban grid of South Boston and East Boston to the academic and recreational grounds of Tufts College, Middlesex Fells, and the Arnold Arboretum.

A network of rail lines, including the Boston and Albany R.R. and the Fitchburg Division, connects outlying residential hubs like Melrose, Roslindale, and Quincy to the city core. The map highlights the numerous drumlins and hills that define the regional topography, from Mt. Auburn near the Charles River to Zion Hill in the northwest, illustrating how the natural terrain dictated the early development of the suburban corridor.