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1942 Map of Narragansett Pier

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of Narragansett Pier
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Narragansett Pier and the coastal defenses of Rhode Island appear here in 1942, reflecting a shoreline defined by both summer recreation and wartime vigilance. The map details the developed waterfront between Bonnet Shores and Point Judith, featuring prominent coastal installations like Fort Phillip Kearney and Fort Nathaniel Green. Inland, the settlements of Wakefield and Peace Dale show a dense network of streets and buildings near the Saugatuckett River, while the rural stretches are marked by family-named landmarks like McSparran Hill and Rose Hill.

The landscape is characterized by its complex water bodies, from the tidal Pettaquamscutt Cove to the sheltered Mackerel Cove on Conanicut Island. Local civic life is anchored by structures such as the Tower Sch and Narragansett Ch. South of the pier, Scarborough State Beach and the Point Judith Harbor of Refuge highlight the area's long-standing identity as a maritime hub and destination, even as the offshore Brenton Reef Lightship guided vessels through the Atlantic approaches during the war years.