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1972 Map of Provincetown

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Provincetown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The tip of the Outer Cape is defined by the sweeping hooks of Race Point, Wood End, and Long Point, creating the sheltered waters of Provincetown Harbor. This 1970s landscape reflects the delicate balance between the established coastal settlement of Provincetown and the protected wilderness of the Cape Cod National Seashore. The map captures the unique hydrology of the dunes, where freshwater bodies like Shank Painter Pond and Clapps Pond sit just inland from the salt spray of Herring Cove Beach.

Tracing the geography reveals the early aviation footprint at Provincetown Municipal Airport alongside historical landmarks like the Pilgrim Monument. Inland, the terrain rises toward glacial features such as Mt Gilboa and Mt Ararat, while the eastern boundary with Truro is marked by the expansive Pilgrim Lake. This survey illustrates the area after its mid-century transition into a nationally recognized recreational and ecological preserve.