Loading map...

1890 Map of Narragansett Bay

Name: 1890 Topographic Map of Narragansett Bay
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1890
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1890

About this map

The Pawtuxet River and the complex shoreline of the western Narragansett Bay dominate this 1888 survey, revealing an era of established coastal villages and heavy rail traffic. Large institutional tracts like the State Prison and State Farm mark the northern landscape, while the interior is crisscrossed by major lines including the New York Providence and Boston R. R. and the Pawtuxet Valley R.R. These tracks connect maritime hubs like Wickford and industrial centers like Natick to the broader regional economy.

Along the bay, the map documents the seasonal and nautical character of the late 19th-century coast. Features such as Rocky Point, Conimicut Park, and the Bristol Ferry highlight a landscape defined by both recreation and critical transport. From the heights of Barber's Height to the sheltered waters of Greenwich Bay, the survey captures the intricate relationship between the state's jagged geography and its dense settlement patterns before the 20th-century expansion of roads.