1950 Map of Great Wass Island

About this map

Great Wass Island dominates this mid-century coastal survey, a landscape defined by its intricate network of coves and the surrounding archipelago of Washington County. At the time of this fieldwork, the island's interior was marked primarily by an extensive telephone line and several areas of heath, indicating the specialized wetland ecology of this Down East environment. Evidence of human habitation and navigation is concentrated at the periphery, such as the Mannings Farm on Fisherman Island and the critical maritime infrastructure located on Mistake Island, which includes the Moose Peak L H lighthouse and a U S Coast Guard Sta. The map captures the complex hydrography between Western Bay and Eastern Bay, including sheltered anchorages like Three Falls Harbor and Mistake Harbor. The presence of many named ledges and rocks, such as Norton Ledge and Freeman Rock, highlights the navigational hazards inherent to this portion of the Gulf of Maine.