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1954 Map of Port Bolivar

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Port Bolivar
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The waters of Galveston Bay dominate this mid-century survey, revealing the critical maritime infrastructure connecting the Texas coast. The settlement of Port Bolivar sits at the tip of the Bolivar Peninsula, serving as a vital juncture for the Intracoastal Waterway and the Houston Ship Channel. This 1954 field-checked data, with later 1970s photogrammetric revisions, highlights the constant shifting of the coastal landscape, from the extensive Hanna Reef to the tidal flats near Hanna.

Maritime history is deeply etched into the geography, seen in the Old Railroad Grade and the long reach of the Texas City Dike. Large Spoil Areas flank the dredged channels, illustrating the industrial effort required to maintain deep-water access. Inland, smaller water bodies like Oyster Lake and Horseshoe Lake provide a counterpoint to the expansive Seaplane Restricted Area that spans the bay's center.