1969 Map of South Bird Island

About this map

Padre Island National Seashore is captured here as an expansive orthophotomap, showing the dynamic intersection of shifting sands and coastal waters during the late 1960s. The terrain is dominated by shifting sand dunes that reach up to 28 feet in height, separating the shallow Laguna Madre from the open Gulf of Mexico. On the western shore, the remnants of ranching and early aviation are visible in the Lobo Windmill, Novilla Windmill, and the inactive Outlying Field 42. Development on the island is concentrated at the Malaquite Beach Development, while the South Bird Island Nesting Area highlights the region's importance as a protected habitat. Navigational features like the Intracoastal Waterway and various beacons mark the transit routes used by coastal mariners of the era.