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1889 Map of Provincetown

Name: 1889 Topographic Map of Provincetown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1889
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1889

About this map

Provincetown sits at the hooked tip of Cape Cod, showing a landscape defined by maritime safety and shifting sands in the late 19th century. The settlement cluster near Town Hill is anchored by a dense network of streets and a rail line terminating at the harbor. Surrounding the town is a wilderness of water and dunes, from the expansive Shank Painter Pond to the secluded Duck Pond and Round Pond.

Maritime hazards are evident through the string of specialized facilities lining the coast, including the Race Point Light and multiple life-saving stations like those at Peaked Hill Bar and Highland. The map details the fragile geography of the outer cape, including the Salt Meadow and Moon Pond Meadow, where the land narrows toward Truro. These features reflect a community entirely dependent on the sea, protected by a high concentration of lighthouses including Long Point Light and Wood End Light.