1956 Map of Portland East

About this map

Casco Bay defines this mid-century coastal landscape, serving as a critical harbor defended by a network of historic coastal fortifications. Military installations such as Fort Mc Kinley on Great Diamond Island, Fort Gorges, and Fort Williams highlight the area's strategic importance. The map captures the maritime character of the era, from the Casco Bay and Peaks Island Ferry routes to the scattered communities on Peaks Island, Long Island, and Cushing Island. On the mainland, the Grand Trunk Canadian National Railway and Maine Central Railroad facilitate the transport of goods near the Fore River. Residential and institutional growth is evident in Falmouth Foreside and South Portland, where local landmarks like the Maine School for the Deaf on Mackworth Island and the Portland Country Club are established. This 1956 revision reflects a time when coastal defense, industrial rail, and growing island communities coexisted along the Portland waterfront.