1943 Map of Ewell

About this map

Smith Island dominates this maritime survey, illustrating the complex network of guts, ditches, and thorofares that defined life in the mid-Chesapeake during the 1940s. Centered on the isolated settlements of Ewell, Rhodes Point, and Tylerton, the map reveals a landscape where water and land are inextricably linked. The intricate waterways, such as the Canal and Tyler Ditch, show the intentional engineering required to navigate these low-lying marshes. The southern portion of the island is bisected by the Maryland-Virginia state line, cutting across the marshy expanse near Amen Corner and South Point. Offshore features like Smith Island Light and the small outcroppings of Fishbone Island and Upper Tump highlight the hazards and landmarks essential for the local crabbing and fishing communities navigating Chesapeake Bay and Kedges Straits.