1954 Map of Port Bolivar

About this map

The Bolivar Peninsula forms a slender gateway into the vast maritime network of Galveston Bay in this mid-century topographic record. At the tip of the landform lies Port Bolivar, showing a concentrated grid of streets and structures alongside an Old Railroad Grade that speaks to the area's earlier logistical importance. The surrounding waters are dominated by industrial and navigation features, including the deep-draft Houston Ship Channel and the protected Intracoastal Waterway cutting through the shoreline. Natural features like Horseshoe Lake and Oyster Lake provide contrast to the extensive Spoil Area and Pipeline Area notations that document the intensive modification of the bay floor. The map also delineates a large Seaplane Restricted Area and several dangerous hazards to navigation, such as Hann A Reef and the prominent Halfmoon Shoal.