1951 Map of Clatsop Spit

About this map

Fort Stevens Military Reservation anchors the landward portion of this coastal survey, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. The geography is defined by the shifting sands of Clatsop Spit and the engineered maritime defenses required to keep the river mouth navigable. Nautical features include the South Jetty and several instances of a Submerged Breakwater, as well as a Tank and Piling fields. The map records a specific moment in maritime safety and defense, noting a Lookout Tower and a road leading to a Bridge Unsafe crossing over the Tidal Flat. This intersection of the Oregon coastline and the great river demonstrates the precarious nature of coastal infrastructure in the mid-20th century.