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1948 Map of Indianapolis East

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Indianapolis East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Fort Benjamin Harrison anchors the northeastern corner of this Marion County landscape, situated just as the post-war suburban expansion began to reshape the outskirts of Indianapolis. The map reveals a dense network of institutional and industrial activity, from the massive Naval Ordnance Plant to the aviation hubs at Brightwood Airport and Sky Harbor Airport. This era shows the city transitioning from its rail-centric roots, evidenced by the sprawling Hawthorne Yards and the New York Central lines, toward a modern automotive and military-industrial landscape.

Local neighborhood character is preserved in the detailed street grids of Irvington and Brightwood, dotted with numerous community institutions like the Childrens Home and Warren Central High Sch. Along the winding path of Fall Creek, leisure and scouting traditions are visible at Camp Chank-Tun-Un-Gi and Woollens Gardens, providing a sharp contrast to the industrial and military infrastructure nearby.