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1974 Map of Orleans

Name: 1974 Topographic Map of Orleans
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1990
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1990

About this map

Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic Ocean flank this mid-1970s landscape of the Lower Cape, where the narrow peninsula is defined by a dense network of kettle ponds and tidal inlets. The town of Orleans serves as a central hub, connected by U S Highway 6 and the tracks of the Penn Central railroad. Along the eastern shore, the Nauset National Seashore preserves the shifting dunes of Nauset Beach, while the Nauset Beach Lighthouse stands watch near Nauset Bay.

Local history is preserved in several burial sites, including the Cove Burying Ground and Minister Pond Cem, which alongside landmarks like St Joan of Arc church, reveal the long-standing community structure. The map illustrates the specialized maritime geography of the region, from the Tidal Flat of Sunken Meadow to the protected waters of Salt Pond Bay and the wooded interior of Nickerson State Forest Park.