1952 Map of Mesquite Bay

About this map

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge dominates the upper portion of this coastal survey, where the wild marshlands of Blackjack Peninsula meet the shallow waters of San Antonio Bay. The 1952 topography captures an intricate network of sloughs and lakes, including Mustang Lake and Wild Hog Lake, punctuated by isolated landmarks like Carlos Windmills and Jack Windmill. This was an era of active coastal navigation and resource extraction, evidenced by the clear marking of the Intracoastal Waterway and various gas and oil wells along the shore. To the south, the map details the complex barrier geography of Matagorda Island and St Joseph Island, separated by the waters of Mesquite Bay. This environment is defined by its shifting sands and shell reefs, such as Ayres Reef and Rattlesnake Reef, which protected the inner bays from the Gulf of Mexico.