1893 Map of Gay Head

About this map

Gay Head Cliffs and the western reaches of Marthas Vineyard anchor this coastal survey, showing a landscape defined by saltwater ponds and glacial terminal moraines. The settlement at Chilmark and the smaller outpost at Squibnocket are connected by winding roads that skirt Chilmark Pond and Nashaquitsa Pond. Coastal navigation was critical during this era, evidenced by the presence of Gay Head Light, Tarpaulin Cove Light, and Cuttyhunk Light. Across Vineyard Sound, the Elizabeth Islands stretch toward Buzzards Bay, including Naushon Island and Cuttyhunk Island. The map records the intricate shoreline of the era, from the secluded French Watering Place to the treacherous passages of Robinsons Hole and Quicks Hole. Further south, the isolated island of No Mans Land sits alone in the Atlantic Ocean, completing this picture of the Massachusetts maritime frontier.