1893 Map of Gay Head

About this map

The southwest extremity of Marthas Vineyard and the chain of the Elizabeth Islands are documented here following an 1887 survey. This coastal landscape is defined by its maritime navigation aids, including Gay Head Light, Tarpaulin Cove Light, and Cuttyhunk Light, which guided vessels through the surrounding Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay. The topography of the islands is marked by distinct glacial features like Gay Head Cliffs and Nashaquitsa Cliffs, as well as numerous coastal ponds such as Menemsha Pond and Squibnocket Pond. Inland, the terrain rises toward Prospect Hill and Peaked Hill within the township of Chilmark. Isolated in the south, No Mans Land stands as a solitary landmass in the Atlantic Ocean. The map reveals a late 19th-century coastal economy where small settlements like Squibnocket and protected harbors like Cuttyhunk Harbor served as vital nodes for local maritime life.