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1893 Map of Gay Head

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Gay Head
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1898
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1898

About this map

The western reaches of Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands chain define this maritime landscape in the late nineteenth century. At the far southwestern tip of the Vineyard, the striking Gay Head Cliffs and the adjacent Gay Head Light provide a critical navigational landmark for vessels transitioning from the Atlantic Ocean into Vineyard Sound. The topography reveals a complex network of coastal ponds, including Squibnocket Pond and Menemsha Pond, separated from the sea by narrow beaches such as Stone Wall Beach.

Further north across the sound, the archipelago is detailed island by island, from Naushon Island down to the isolated Cuttyhunk Island. Features like Tarpaulin Cove and its light indicate established maritime waypoints, while the interior of Chilmark shows elevations reaching Peaked Hill 311. The survey also documents the remote outpost of No Mans Land to the south, highlighting the isolation of these coastal landforms before modern development.