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1954 Map of Galveston

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Galveston
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

Galveston stands as a vital coastal hub in the mid-1950s, defined by its complex harbor works and deep military and educational history. The map captures the city's grid south of the Strand, showing a dense network of civic and educational institutions such as the University of Texas Medical College and Ball High Sch. The industrial and maritime character of the island is evidenced by the massive rail infrastructure of the Southern Pacific (T & NO) and the Gulf Colorado and Santa Fe (AT & SF), which converge at the busy Galveston Channel.

Coastal defenses are prominent, from the active Fort Crockett overlooking the Gulf of Mexico to the Old Fort San Jacinto and the Fort Travis (Aband) on the Bolivar Peninsula. The barrier island geography is further modified by the Seawall and the dredging of the Houston Ship Channel, separating the city from Pelican Island. From the Municipal Airport to the Port Bolivar ferry landing, this survey documents a period of significant urban development protected by massive engineering works.