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1887 Map of Marthas Vineyard

Name: 1887 Topographic Map of Marthas Vineyard
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1887
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1887

About this map

Marthas Vineyard is presented here in the late 19th century, featuring a detailed coastline defined by its numerous coastal ponds and historic harbor settlements. The topography, surveyed by E.B. Clark, highlights the transition of the island's eastern end, where Cottage City and Highlands stand near the busy waters of Nantucket Sound. Further south, the map details the intricate geography of Chappaquiddick Id. and the extensive series of southern great ponds, including Tisbury Great Pond and Edgartown Great Pond.

Maritime safety is a clear priority on this sheet, marked by the presence of West Chop Light, East Chop Light, and Edgartown Light. These beacons guided traffic into vital maritime hubs like Vineyard Haven Harbor. Inland, the map captures the rural character of settlements such as West Tisbury and North Tisbury, along with natural landmarks like Sachem Spring and the elevation of Indian Hill. This documentation serves as a foundational record of the island's landscape before the modern developments of the 20th century.