1982 Map of Mossey Islands

About this map

The narrow barrier islands of the Outer Banks are captured here in high detail, showcasing the fragile intersection of maritime forest and migrating sands. Whale Head and Whale Head Hill anchor the northern reaches of this coastal strip, where the terrain transitions from the open beach of Currituck Beach to the intricate marshlands and ponds of Currituck Sound. This 1982 orthophotomap reveals the density of water-fowl habitat, marked by dozens of named ponds like Old House Pond and Canvasback Pond, which speak to the area's long-standing heritage as a destination for sportsmen. Isolated settlements and markers such as Peters Quarter and the Pine Island Club appear alongside topographical features like Poyners Hill and the distinctive Tree Dunes. The map documents a landscape defined by the shifting nature of the coast, where Shifting Sands and tidal flats continuously reshape the boundary between the salt spray of the Atlantic Ocean and the sheltered waters of Sand Cove and Wells Bay.