1977 Map of Boston North

About this map

The Mystic River serves as the central artery of this orthophotoquad, which captures the densely developed urban corridor north of Boston in the late 1970s. Unlike traditional line-drawn maps, this aerial imagery reveals the true density of neighborhoods in Somerville and Cambridge, showing the closely packed residential blocks and industrial zones that define the region. The view extends from the residential streets of Melrose and Malden in the north down to the piers and waterfront infrastructure of Boston Harbor. This specific survey, produced by the Department of the Interior, provides researchers with an exact visual record of the region's mid-century urban planning, including the complex highway and rail networks cutting through Everett and Chelsea just before the major redevelopment projects of the late 20th century.