1956 Map of Card Sound

About this map

Key Largo anchors this mid-century topographic survey, revealing the early footprints of coastal development at the Ocean Reef Club and the settlement of Grayvik. The landscape is a complex network of subtropical islands and shallow waters, including Palo Alto Key, Totten Key, and Old Rhodes Key, separated by channels like Rhodes Channel and Broad Creek. Inland on the main island, Crocodile Lake sits within a dense mangrove environment, while the Key Largo Club and a landing field indicate the area's mid-century role as a remote destination. Marine navigation is central to the map's detail, documenting the Intracoastal Waterway as it threads through Card Sound, Little Card Sound, and Barnes Sound. These soundings and coastal markers provide a clear look at the archipelago before extensive modern expansion, preserving the location of local landmarks like Pumpkin Key and Wednesday Point.