1942 Map of Deal Island

About this map

Deal Island and its surrounding watermen communities sit at the edge of Tangier Sound during the early 1940s, a period when the local economy was deeply tied to the Chesapeake Bay. This military-derived survey illustrates the intricate network of tidal thoroughfares, including the Upper Thorofare and Lower Thorofare, which define the island's geography. The presence of multiple aids to navigation, such as the Sharkfin Shoal Lighthouse and Haines Point Light, highlights the importance of safe passage through these treacherous shoals for fishing vessels. Settlements like Wenona and Chance are shown concentrated along the few hard-surfaced roads, while the vast Dames Quarter Marsh and Clay Island Marsh reflect the area's natural state before modern drainage or development patterns altered the tidewater landscape.