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1952 Map of Pass Cavallo SW

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Pass Cavallo SW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

Matagorda Island serves as a critical military and maritime outpost in the early 1950s, dominated by the active footprint of the Matagorda Island Air Force Base. The landscape is defined by its strategic position between the Gulf of Mexico and Espiritu Santo Bay, featuring a sprawling Bombing and Gunnery Range that occupies much of the barrier island's interior. A concentrated base area near the Control Tower includes various tanks and buildings, along with a small Cem, reflecting the self-contained nature of this military installation.

Maritime activity is centered around Pass Cavallo and the U S Coast Guard Station on the eastern tip of the island. Navigational features like the Ferry Channel and numerous daybeacons point to the importance of water transport for supplying the base. The map captures the delicate estuarine environment of the Texas coast, from the shallow waters of Pringle Lake to the tidal inlets of Lighthouse Cove and Mule Slough.