1957 Map of Lanham

About this map

Greenbelt and the sprawling U S Department of Agriculture Research Center anchor the northwestern corner of this mid-century Maryland landscape. The area is defined by a transitional mix of established agricultural research grounds and rapidly expanding residential settlements like Carrollton, Seabrook, and Lanham. The Pennsylvania Railroad cuts a diagonal path through the terrain, serving the station at Glenn Dale, while the emerging automotive era is visible in the construction of the John Hanson Highway. Notable landmarks such as the Glenn Dale Sanatorium and the Radio Station (WWV) illustrate the significant institutional and federal footprint in Prince George's County during this era. Further south, the landscape softens into drainage basins like Western Branch, where smaller communities such as Largo and Beane remain more sparsely settled amidst the winding country roads.