1946 Map of Boston South

About this map

Beacon Hill and the historic core of the city overlook the Charles River Basin in this 1940s landscape, which illustrates the dense urban expansion before the interstate era. The map details the intricate educational and medical infrastructure of the day, from Harvard University and the Mass Institute of Technology in the north to the Boston State Hospital complex further south. These institutions are surrounded by a tapestry of distinct neighborhoods such as Roxbury Crossing, Jamaica Plain, and Dorchester Center, each connected by a heavy network of roads like Blue Hill Ave and the New York New Haven and Hartford railroad lines. Along the coast, the industrial and military presence is evident at the U S Naval Reservation and Logan International Airport, while the expansive Forest Hills Cem and Franklin Park provide significant green spaces amidst the growing residential blocks.