1949 Map of Sebastian

About this map

The Pelican Island Bird Sanctuary occupies a prominent place within the Indian River, surrounded by a complex network of mangrove-laden islands and channels like Turtle Pen Slough and Preachers Hole. Along the mainland shore, the Florida East Coast railway dictates the alignment of early citrus-era settlements such as Roseland, Sebastian, and Wabasso. This 1949 topographic study, updated with 1970 photorevisions, details the transition from a maritime economy toward mid-century development, evidenced by the Sebastian Municipal Airport and the Fish Hatchery near Macedonia Ch. The barrier island remains relatively sparse, punctuated by landmarks like Chobie Dock and the Airway Beacon, while the Intracoastal Waterway cuts a clear path through the lagoon's shallow reaches, including the Sebastian Inlet that connects these protected waters to the Atlantic Ocean.