1956 Map of Indian Head

About this map

The Potomac River dominates this mid-century landscape, serving as a jurisdictional and industrial boundary between Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland. The Maryland shore is defined by federal installations and historic estates, notably the Indian Head Powder Factory and the Habre de Venture estate near Port Tobacco. On the Virginia side, the Fort Belvoir Military Reservation and the District of Columbia Department of Corrections occupy significant riverfront acreage, contrasting with the preservation of Gunston Hall. The map documents the rural character of the interior prior to heavy suburbanization, with small crossroads like Pomonkey and Marbury connected by routes such as Old Stage Road. Along Mattawoman Creek and Chicamuxen Creek, the marshy shoreline remains largely undeveloped, preserving a network of landings and wharves like Sanders Wharf and Proctors Wharf that reflect an older river-based economy.