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1894 Map of Mt. Vernon

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Mt. Vernon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1907
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1907

About this map

Alexandria and Washington anchor the northeastern corner of this turn-of-the-century survey, a landscape defined by the winding Maryland Virginia Boundary Line along the Potomac River. The map illustrates a region transitioning from an agrarian past to a strategic military and suburban hub, evidenced by the presence of Arlington National Cemetery, Fort Myer, and Fort Washington. Inland, the terrain is a network of small settlements and stream valleys, where places like Fairfax and Vienna are linked by the Southern R. R. and the Va. Midland Div., highlighting the early importance of rail transit before the dominance of modern highways.

Downstream, the river widens near Pohick Bay and Indian Head, showing a shoreline dotted with family-named points and landings such as Marshall Hall and Cockpit Pt.. Historically significant landmarks like the colonial-era Pohick church and the engineering marvel at Cabin Johns Bridge stand alongside established rural communities like Chantilly, Centerville, and Dranesville, offering a comprehensive look at Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland before the suburban expansion of the mid-20th century.