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1893 Map of Casco Bay

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Casco Bay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1898
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1898

About this map

The maritime defenses and navigational aids of Casco Bay are prominently displayed in this late nineteenth-century survey, documenting a coastline critical to Maine's seafaring economy. Centered on Portland, the map details a sophisticated network of fortifications including Fort Georges in the harbor and Fort Preble and Fort Scammel guarding the approaches. The rugged shoreline of Cape Elizabeth is defined by a series of points and coves, anchored by the iconic Portland Head Light and the Cape Elizabeth Lights at Dyer Pt..

Further offshore, the intricate archipelago of the Cumberland coast is revealed, from Sturdivant Id. to the remote Halfway Rock Light. Early settlements like Falmouth Foreside and South Harpswell sit at the edges of deep-water sounds, while the interior of the islands, such as Peaks Island and Chebeag, show the topography before modern development. Smaller coastal communities like Bowery Beach and landmarks such as Richmond Id. provide essential points of reference for genealogists and maritime historians studying this storied Atlantic shelf.