1892 Map of Narragansett Bay

About this map

Prudence Island and Conanicut Island anchor the central expanse of the bay in this late nineteenth-century survey, a period when the Rhode Island coastline was defined by a complex maritime and rail-based economy. To the west, the New York Providence and Boston R.R. connects coastal hubs like Apponaug and Wickford Junction, while the eastern shores around Bristol and Warren are served by the Providence Warren and Fall River R.R. Notable institutional landmarks include the State Prison in the north and the State Farm nearby. The map documents a landscape of active navigation and early coastal recreation, from the lighthouse at Warwick Light to the popular destination at Rocky Point. Inland, the terrain is marked by numerous family-named heights such as Spencer Hill and Barber's Height, providing a detailed look at the rural character of the state before twentieth-century suburban expansion.