1956 Map of Boston

About this map

Boston and its sprawling metropolitan surroundings are captured during a mid-century period of intense postwar expansion, as evidenced by the dense yellow urban corridors stretching toward Lowell, Lawrence, and Worcester. In the harbor, the defense landscape of an earlier era remains visible through a series of island fortifications including Fort Independence, Fort Strong, and Fort Warren on Georges Island. The map provides a detailed view of the regional infrastructure that fueled this growth, from the industrial Merrimack River towns in the north to the busy rail lines of the B & M RR and NY NH & H RR. To the west, the Wachusett Reservoir and Wachusett Mountain State Reservation anchor the landscape, while the eastern coast is defined by maritime landmarks like Cape Ann Light and the newly designated Cape Cod National Seashore.