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1964 Map of Monomoy Point

Name: 1964 Topographic Map of Monomoy Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge dominates this coastal survey, illustrating the fragile and shifting topography of the Chatham shoreline in the mid-1960s. The map highlights the dynamic nature of this barrier beach system, from the Barrier Dunes to the intricate network of tidal flats and salt ponds like Hospital Pond and Big Station Pond. A significant historical landmark is the Lighthouse (Abandoned) near the southern tip, standing as a sentinel over the treacherous waters of Nantucket Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.

Extensive hydrographic data details the complex underwater environment surrounding Monomoy Point, including hazards such as Handkerchief Shoal, Rodgers Shoal, and Stone Horse Shoal. These shoals and channels, including the area simply labeled Hole, define the navigational challenges of the region. The transition from marshlands like Lighthouse Marsh to the exposed sands of Shooters Island reflects a landscape in constant flux, shaped by the sea and protected for its ecological importance.