1944 Map of Bradenton Beach

About this map

Anna Maria Key and Long Boat Key form the seaward edge of this coastal landscape, protecting the waters of Sarasota Pass and Palma Sola Bay. At the height of the Second World War, the barrier islands supported small fishing and resort communities like Cortez and Bradenton Beach, connected by the Cortez Bridge. The southern end of the sheet is dominated by a substantial Military Reservation and a Landing Field on Long Boat Key, reflecting the strategic importance of the Florida coastline during the era. The interior coastal waters are dotted with numerous islands, including Tidy Island and the Sister Keys, while the mainland portion shows the early layout of Palma Sola Park and the mangrove-lined shores of Perico Bayou. This topography reveals the area just before the post-war development boom altered the Gulf islands.