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1913 Map of Indian Head

Name: 1913 Topographic Map of Indian Head
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1913
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1913

About this map

The Potomac River corridor south of Washington, D.C. reveals a landscape of strategic defense and river-based commerce in the early twentieth century. This 1913 edition shows the Naval Proving Grounds at Indian Head, a critical military facility established during the late nineteenth century. Across the river, the Virginia shoreline is deeply indented by Pohick Bay, Gunston Cove, and Occoquan Bay, defining the approach to the capital.

Evidence of the era’s maritime economy is visible in the numerous landings and wharves, such as Mattinglys Wharf, Proctors Wharf, and Poseys Wharf, which served local plantations and communities before the dominance of modern road networks. Inland, the map documents small crossroads like Pomonkey and Accokeek, alongside rural infrastructure including Millards Mill, the County Farm, and the Granny Thompson School, providing a detailed look at the social geography of Charles and Prince George's counties.