1956 Map of Boston

About this map

Boston and its sprawling coastal suburbs anchor this mid-century regional survey, showing a landscape defined by rapid post-war suburbanization and the maturing of its highway network. The beltway around the metropolitan core is already established, linking industrial centers like Lawrence, Lowell, and Lynn. Beyond the urban density, the map captures the vast protected lands and waterways that sustain the region, from the Wachusett Reservoir in the west to the newly established Cape Cod National Seashore at the southeastern edge. Significant transit corridors like the Boston and Maine and New York New Haven and Hartford railroads are shown alongside the rising dominance of federal and state routes. Along the coast, maritime heritage is visible in the detailed labeling of Gloucester Harbor, Salem Harbor, and the various islands of Massachusetts Bay.