1958 Map of Catherine Island

About this map

Catherine Island and the surrounding cypress wetlands of Collier County are documented here during a period of transition in the mid-20th century. The northern portion of the map is defined by large, rectangular land clearings on the island itself, contrasting sharply with the natural hydrology of the Fakahatchee Strand and Stumpy Strand. A critical infrastructure development, the Everglades Parkway (Alligator Alley), cuts a straight path across the southern landscape, marking the increasing accessibility of the Florida interior. Cultural history is present in the form of ancient Indian Mounds and the Pennington Post Camp, which provide evidence of both prehistoric and modern human activity within the swamp. The network of scattered hammocks and water bodies, such as Curry Lake and Flinthead Lake, illustrates the complex drainage patterns of the Lucky Lake Strand before later developments altered the regional environment.