1963 Map of Portland

About this map

The northern New England coastline and the high peaks of the White Mountains define this mid-century landscape, anchored by the port of Portland and the industrial corridors of the Merrimack River. During the early 1960s, the region's transport network was a complex grid of Boston and Maine Railroad lines and developing federal highways like U.S. Highway 1, connecting the seacoast to the interior lake districts. Massive water bodies like Lake Winnipesaukee and Sebago Lake appear alongside vital Cold War military installations, including Pease Air Force Base and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. This era shows a transition from traditional rail-dependent commerce to a modern automotive and defense-linked economy, while the protected reaches of the White Mountain National Forest preserve the rugged character of the northern interior.