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1957 Map of Casco Bay

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Casco Bay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

Portland and the jagged islands of the Maine coastline emerge in detail during the late 1950s, a period when the region's deep military and maritime roots remained highly visible. The landscape is defined by its defensive history, featuring the Fort Mc Kinley Naval Res on Great Diamond Island and the Fort Williams Military Res standing guard over the harbor entrance. These fortifications, along with Fort Gorges and Fort Scammel, illustrate the strategic importance of this harbor through the mid-20th century.

Industrial and social infrastructure is well-established, from the tracks of the Grand Trunk RR tracing the waterfront to the specialized Maine School for the Deaf on Mackworth Island. Along the coast, the Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse and Portland Head Lighthouse provide essential navigational markers for ships traversing the Luckse Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Landward, residential growth is evident in settlements like Falmouth Foreside and South Portland, where local landmarks like the Cape Elizabeth Ch and Underwood Sch served as community anchors.