1944 Map of Gulf Breeze

About this map

Pensacola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico isolate the narrow finger of Santa Rosa Island, which is shown here during a period of heavy military and maritime activity. The War Department's influence is clear, from the U S Naval Reservation at the peninsula's tip to the western presence of Fort Pickens. This 1944 survey captures the coastal landscape before modern sprawl, highlighting localized landmarks such as the Pensacola Quarantine Station (Abandoned) and a riverside Casino near Pensacola Beach. Inland, the terrain is marked by shifting dunes and the Sabine Sand Hills, while the waters of Santa Rosa Sound separate the barrier island from the growing community of Gulf Breeze. Maritime navigation is meticulously recorded through numerous beacons and lights, including the Deer Point Light BN 1934, providing a detailed look at the harbor's defenses and navigational aids during the Second World War.