1956 Map of Elliott Key

About this map

Elliott Key dominates this mid-century hydrographic study, appearing as a long, narrow barrier between the shallow waters of Biscayne Bay and the deeper Hawk Channel of the Atlantic Ocean. Compiled from aerial photography and planetable surveys conducted in the late 1940s and mid-1950s, the map provides a detailed record of the upper Florida Keys before modern development. To the south, a complex network of smaller islands and tidal passes emerges, including Old Rhodes Key, Adams Key, and Porgy Key, separated by the swift currents of Caesar Creek and Hurricane Creek. Offshore, the maritime environment is defined by hazards and navigational aids, from the Ajax Reef and Bache Shoal to various charted piles and daybeacons. This survey documents the natural shoreline and seafloor topography of the keys during a period when the area remained largely inaccessible except by boat.