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1903 Map of Fire Island

Name: 1903 Topographic Map of Fire Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1911
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1911

About this map

Fire Island Beach stretches across this early 20th-century coastline, serving as a critical protective barrier for the mainland. The map reveals a maritime landscape dotted with Life-Saving Stations, including Lone Hill L.S.S. and Blue Point L.S.S., alongside the prominent Fire Island L.H. near the Fire Island Inlet. These structures underscore the perilous nature of the coast before modern navigation.

On the mainland, the Long Island R. R. Montauk Division links established bayfront communities like Sayville, Bayport, and Bayshore. The map illustrates the development of the South Shore, where estates and small settlements are defined by their proximity to the water, from Nicolls Bay to the mouth of the Connetquot River. This era captures the region as a growing retreat for New Yorkers, balanced between its industrial railroad connections and its primary identity as a seafaring and recreational hub.