1943 Map of Matanzas

About this map

Ft Matanzas stands at the northern edge of this coastal survey, guarding the passage where the Matanzas Inlet meets the sea. This wartime-era mapping projects a landscape of barrier islands and tidal marshes, as seen just before the post-war development boom. The barrier strip is home to the scientific and tourist outpost of Marineland and the small coastal settlement of Summer Haven. Inland, the historical corridor of the Old Kings Road runs parallel to the coastline, tracing a path through the low-lying terrain near Pellicer Cr and the boundary between St Johns and Flagler counties. The hydrological network is dominated by the Intracoastal Waterway and the meandering Matanzas River, which together carve a distinct path through the wetlands and hammocks toward Dead Lake. Several survey benchmarks, including Scott and Rock BM 13, provide precise points of reference along the dunes and shoreline.