1947 Map of Garden Cove

About this map

Key Largo presents a narrow, winding profile in this mid-century topographic study, which captures the archipelago before the full surge of modern coastal development. Small settlement clusters such as Garden Cove, Mary, and Knowlson are concentrated along the central ridge, while the surrounding landscape is defined by the shallow expanse of Barnes Sound and the open Atlantic Ocean. The interior geography reveals a complex network of brackish water bodies, including Lake Surprise and Lake Simmons, separated by the Basin Hills. Farther south, the environment shifts toward the intricate shoreline of El Radabob Key and Whitmore Bight. Navigational markers like Elbow Reef Beacon B and Key Largo Beacon No 29 emphasize the importance of maritime transit to this coastal corridor, while aerial photorevisions from the late sixties illustrate the early expansion of local infrastructure.