1893 Map of Gay Head

About this map

Gay Head Light and the towering Gay Head Cliffs anchor the southwestern tip of Marthas Vineyard in this survey based on late 19th-century reconnaissance. The landscape is defined by its complex shoreline, where the Atlantic Ocean meets Vineyard Sound across a series of large coastal ponds including Menemsha Pond, Squibnocket Pond, and Chilmark Pond. To the northwest, the chain of the Elizabeth Islands stretches toward the mainland, with Naushon Island and Cuttyhunk Island serving as critical maritime waypoints marked by the Tarpaulin Cove Light and Cuttyhunk Light. This map reveals the era's navigational dependence on these islands, showing features like the French Watering Place on Naushon and the isolated outpost of No Mans Land to the south. The interior of the Chilmark region is dominated by high points like Prospect Hill 308 and Peaked Hill 311, providing a clear view of the agricultural and maritime settlement patterns before modern development.