1943 Map of Cottrell Key

About this map

Boca Grande Key and Woman Key anchor the southern portion of this mid-century survey of the Florida Keys, where the Gulf of Mexico meets the West Channel. Compiled from air photographs and planetable topography by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1943, the map depicts a collection of uninhabited islands and navigational landmarks. Notable among these is the NW Passage Bn (Old Tower) to the north, signaling the strategic maritime importance of these waters during the war era. The isolation of features like Cottrell Key, Ballast Key, and Barracuda Key provides a clear view of the natural coastal geomorphology before modern shoreline changes. This map captures the specific arrangement of mangroves and sandbars that defined the area's navigational hazards and natural harbors during the 1940s.