1949 Map of Pardon Island

About this map

Mosquito Lagoon and the barrier islands of Florida's east coast dominate this landscape, mapped just as the era of space exploration was reshaping the region. The boundary of the John F Kennedy Space Center (Nasa) marks the southern portion of the sheet, illustrating the intersection of high-technology federal installations and preserved coastal wilderness. Much of the land is dedicated to conservation, split between the Canaveral National Seashore and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Within the lagoon, smaller landforms like Pardon Island, Three Cabbage Island, and the waterway of Pardon Slough provide detail for those interested in the intricate hydrography of the Intracoastal region. The map also captures the maritime boundary between Volusia and Brevard counties as it cuts through the lagoon towards the Atlantic Ocean.