1952 Map of Panther Point NE

About this map

Matagorda Island serves as the primary landform on this sheet, dominated during the early 1950s by its role as the Matagorda Island Bombing and Gunnery Range. This military installation shaped the coastal landscape of Calhoun County, where shoreline features such as Power Lake and a lone Windmill provided small landmarks against the shifting sands. Beyond the thin barrier island, the map focuses heavily on the bathymetry of the Gulf of Mexico, recording soundings and underwater contours that define the transition from the Texas coast into deeper waters. This survey captures a specific era of mid-century coastal defense and maritime navigation along the South Texas barrier islands.