1948 Map of Portsmouth

About this map

Portsmouth sits at the northern end of a long, thin barrier landmass, serving as a critical point of maritime navigation between Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. This maritime landscape is defined by its complex network of tidal waterways and shoals, including Evergreen Slough, the Thorofare, and Baymarsh. A Ferry route connects the area north across the sound, while a Telephone Line stretches south along the narrow spit of Portsmouth Island. Marine navigation aids like the Wallace Channel Light and Sheep Island Slue Light mark the hazardous waters of Ocracoke Inlet and the Vera Cruz Shoal. The 1948 geography captures the island before its full inclusion into the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, showing the scattered terrain of The High Hills and named points like Haulover Point and Royal Point.