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1920 Map of Falmouth

Name: 1920 Topographic Map of Falmouth
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1920
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1920

About this map

Buzzards Bay dominates the western shoreline of this 1920 military survey, which documents the maritime and rail-connected landscape of Falmouth and its surrounding villages. The arrival of the Woods Hole Branch of Old Colony RR shaped the early 20th-century development of the region, terminating at Woods Hole and serving key stops like Falmouth Station. Along the intricate coastline, crucial navigation aids such as Bird Island Light, Wing's Neck Light, and Nobska Point Light highlight the era's reliance on lighthouse infrastructure for safe passage through local harbors.

Inland, the map reveals a pattern of coastal settlements including Monument Beach, Teaticket, and the waterfront resort atmosphere of Falmouth Heights. The interior is defined by numerous kettle ponds like Long Pond and Jenkins Pond, which contrast with the salt marshes and necks that characterize the Buzzards Bay side. This military revision provides a look at the peninsula before modern expansion, capturing the established village centers and the specific alignment of the railroad that connected these Cape Cod communities.