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1944 Map of Portland East

Name: 1944 Topographic Map of Portland East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1944
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1944

About this map

Casco Bay serves as a critical theater of coastal defense and maritime commerce in the mid-1940s. The map illustrates a heavily fortified landscape, where numerous military installations protect the approaches to Portland Harbor. Key positions include Fort McKinley on Great Diamond Island, Fort Scammel on House Island, and the land-based batteries of Fort Preble and Fort Williams. These sites, alongside a vast Army Reservation on Long Island, reflect the area's strategic importance during the World War II era.

Beyond the fortifications, the mainland shows the established neighborhoods of South Portland and the residential expansion of Falmouth Foreside. Transportation is dominated by the Canadian National Railway (Grand Trunk) corridor, while the U.S. Marine Hosp and Portland Country Club define the social and civic geography. The inner islands, such as Peak Island and Little Diamond Island, are shown with intricate detail, revealing the dense network of summer cottages and local landmarks that characterize the Maine coastline.