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1956 Map of Kensington

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Kensington
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

Rock Creek carves a deep valley through this mid-century landscape, separating the residential growth of Kensington and Rockville from the wooded tracts of Manor Park and Norbeck. The era's expansion is evident in the dense street grids of Randolph Hills and Franklin Park, contrasting with the more traditional estates at Bel Pre Farms and Gayfields. This mid-1950s survey captures a significant institutional presence in Montgomery County, showcasing sprawling campuses for the National Institutes of Health and the Naval Medical Center near the southern boundary.

Transportation corridors like the Baltimore & Ohio RR and Connecticut Avenue anchor the suburban development, while dozens of neighborhood schools, such as Wheaton High Sch and Montgomery Blair High Sch, mark the postwar building boom. For genealogists, the map preserves the exact locations of several historic burial grounds, including the Gate of Heaven Cemetery and smaller family sites like Beall Cem and Bonifant Cem.