1893 Map of North Point

About this map

Steelton and the industrial activity at Sparrow Pt. anchor the northern reaches of the Chesapeake Bay in this late nineteenth-century survey. The map documents the intricate coastline of the Patapsco River and Magothy River, where maritime commerce was a primary driver of local life. From the family-named outpost of Jacob Store to the commercial operations at Wilson Wharf, the shoreline is dotted with small settlements and landings that predated the heavy suburbanization of later decades. Navigational aids like the Seven Foot Knoll Light and Craighill Channel Rear Light illustrate the vital importance of guiding shipping traffic into the harbor. Further south, the map captures the rural character of Gibson Island and Kent Island, showing an era when Kent Landing and Rock Hall Landing served as essential links between the eastern and western shores of the bay.