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1956 Map of Boston North

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Boston North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Middlesex Fells Reservation dominates the western interior of this landscape, preserving a cluster of high points like Bear Hill and Winthrop Hill alongside the Winchester Reservoir and Spot Pond. This mid-century survey documents the dense urban expansion north of Boston, where the Boston and Maine RR corridors connect established neighborhoods from Melrose and Malden down to the industrial waterfronts of the Mystic River. Significant institutional footprints are visible throughout, including the U S Naval Hospital in Chelsea and the sprawling campus of Harvard University in Cambridge.

The eastern edge reveals a transitional coastal environment, with the Saugus River winding toward the Seaplane Basin and the Revere Airport. The map captures specialized land uses of the era, such as the Saugus Race Track and the early layout of Logan International Airport. Residential growth is anchored by numerous local schools and landmarks like the Holy Cross Cemetery, illustrating the post-war suburbanization of the Middlesex and Suffolk county borders.