1951 Map of Great Point

About this map

Great Point stands as the northernmost terminal of the fragile barrier beach system protecting the northeast coast of Nantucket Island. This 1951 revision captures the narrow, hook-like geography of Coatue Point and the sheltering curve of Coskata Beach, which together form the Head of the Harbor. The map illustrates the precarious nature of these coastal landforms, where the tranquil waters of Coskata Pond are separated by only a thin strip of sand from the open Atlantic Ocean. Historically, this area has served as a critical navigational waypoint between the ocean and Nantucket Sound. The absence of roads or permanent settlements on this sheet highlights the wilderness character of the peninsula, focusing instead on the shifting sands and tidal marshes that define the island's extreme northern reaches.