1941 Map of Gunpowder

About this map

Gunpowder Falls and Little Gunpowder Falls carve through the landscape of northeastern Maryland, converging before they meet the Chesapeake Bay. Prepared under the direction of the Corps of Engineers, this survey captures the rural and maritime character of the region just before wartime industrial shifts accelerated. The landscape is defined by its deep estuaries and points, such as Maxwell Point and Rickett Point, which frame the intricate shoreline of the Bird River and Bush River. Inland, the settlement pattern follows early colonial footprints and industrial sites like Harford Furnace and the Osbornes Ruins. Transportation is anchored by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the P.R.R. System, which bisect small crossroads like Jerusalem and Abingdon, while the military presence at Graces Quarters indicates the strategic importance of this coastal corridor.