1897 Map of Brooklyn

About this map

Jamaica Bay and its labyrinth of salt marshes anchor this late-19th-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by water and the burgeoning expansion of Kings and Queens counties. Before the era of massive land reclamation, the bay is a complex network of hassocks and channels like Yellow Bar Hassock and Pumpkinpatch Channel. The map documents a critical period of transit development, where multiple rail lines including the Long Island R.R. and the New York & Sea Beach R.R. converge toward the coast, servicing early seaside resorts and expanding residential hubs.