Loading map...

1955 Map of Cape Charles

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Cape Charles
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula at Cape Charles serves as a critical strategic landscape where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. This mid-1950s survey highlights the heavy military and maritime presence during the Cold War era, featuring both the Fisherman Island Naval Base and the Cape Charles Air Force Base. The map reveals a complex network of coastal features and hazards, from the shifting sands of Smith Island to the intricate waterways of Smith Island Inlet and Fisherman Inlet.

Maritime safety and surveillance are anchored by the U S Coast Guard Station on the eastern shore of Smith Island. The terrain is characterized by tidal marshes and isolated landmasses like Adams Island and the marshy area known as The Isaacs. For historians, the detail at Wise Point and the various towers and cable crossings reflect the era's focus on coastal defense and navigation at this vital mouth of the bay.