1892 Map of Narragansett Bay

About this map

Narragansett Bay serves as the central focal point of this coastal Rhode Island landscape, recorded in the late nineteenth century. The map illustrates a complex maritime and rail-based economy, with numerous navigation aids such as Warwick Light and the Prudence I. Light guiding vessels through the deep waters and coves. Along the western shore, the New York Providence and Boston R.R. connects thriving coastal settlements like East Greenwich and Wickford. Inland, the presence of the State Prison near the Pawtuxet River provides a specific institutional landmark of the era. The detailed shoreline captures the geography before modern development, featuring prominent points like Quonset Pt. and the intricate necks of land like Potowomut Neck. Across the bay, the island of Prudence Island and the upper reaches of Bristol Harbor demonstrate the importance of ferry crossings and lighthouse stations to the region's connectivity.