1904 Map of Montauk

About this map

The easternmost tip of Long Island is defined by its maritime infrastructure and isolation at the opening of the twentieth century. The Montauk Point L.H. stands at the terminal point of the island, overlooking the meeting of Block Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. The arrival of the Long Island Montauk Div railroad transformed this landscape, connecting the small settlement of Montauk to the rest of New York. The map reveals a coast guarded by life-saving stations, including Ditch Plain L.S.S. and Wither Plain L.S.S., essential for navigation in these treacherous waters. Significant interior water bodies like Great Pond, Fort Pond, and Oyster Pond punctuate the terminal moraine topography, while Prospect Hill provides a high vantage over the surrounding headlands like Shagwong Pt. and Culloden Pt.