1943 Map of Carancahua Lake

About this map

Galveston Island and the coastal marshes of the West Bay are depicted here during the early 1940s, highlighting a landscape defined by the Intracoastal Waterway. The map reveals the intricate transition from the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the protected wetlands and lagoons, including Halls Lake and Carancahua Lake. The boundary between Galveston and Brazoria counties bisects the bay, winding through the channel of Halls Bayou. Evidence of early coastal activity appears in the form of several scattered windmills and the Boathouse Ruins on the inland side of the barrier island. Notable landforms like Rattlesnake Mound rise above the marshy terrain, while the shoreline is broken by features such as Bird Island Cove and Snake Island. This survey captures the coastline as it existed prior to mid-century development, focusing on the natural geography of the Texas Gulf Coast.