1949 Map of Orsino

About this map

The John F Kennedy Space Center (NASA) dominates the central landscape of Merritt Island, reflecting a period of intense technological expansion in the late 20th century. This 1970 revision highlights the massive infrastructure of the Space Age, including the Vehicle Assembly Building, the Launch Control Center, and the sprawling Industrial Area. These modern facilities are overlaid upon a complex network of coastal wetlands and waterways, such as Banana Creek and the Indian River. Older settlements like Orsino and small landmarks like Hubs Landing or Palma Crystal provide a contrast to the high-tech development, showing the transition from a traditional Florida coastal environment to a global center for aerospace activity. The map clearly delineates the massive Turning Basin and the primary transit corridors of NASA Parkway West and NASA Parkway East.