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1946 Map of Lexington

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Lexington
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1946
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1946

About this map

Lexington and its surrounding Middlesex County neighbors appear here in the mid-1940s, revealing a landscape defined by institutional grounds, early suburban development, and the enduring corridor of the Boston and Maine Railroad. The region is notably marked by large complexes such as the Metropolitan State Hospital, Symmes Hospital, and the sprawling Mc Lean Hospital near Waverley. These institutional footprints, alongside numerous recreation sites like the Arlmont Country Club and Winchester Country Club, occupy significant acreage between the maturing residential centers of Arlington and Belmont.

Tracing the geography from Fresh Pond north to Horn Pond, the map highlights the intricate hydrography of the Upper Mystic Lake and Lower Mystic Lake system. Historical preservation is evident at Ye Old Burying Ground in the heart of Lexington, while the industrial past of the area is represented by the Woburn Mine. This survey provides a clear view of the transportation network just prior to the massive post-war highway expansions, with Massachusetts Ave serving as a primary local artery through East Lexington and North Cambridge.