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1954 Map of Sprague Island

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Sprague Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

St Marks National Wildlife Refuge dominates this coastal landscape, protecting a complex network of marshes, bayous, and tidal creeks along the Apalachee Bay. The St Marks River flows southward through the refuge, joining the East River as they empty into the Gulf of Mexico. This environment is characterized by scattered landmasses such as Sprague Island and Gibbs Island, interspersed with numerous named water bodies like Africa Bayou and Stony Bayou Pool.

Navigational and administrative landmarks provide fixed points within the shifting wetlands, including the Coast Guard Station Lighthouse at the river mouth and the Refuge Headquarters. The presence of the Mound Lookout Tower and a Gaging Sta indicates the active management and monitoring of this coastal ecosystem in the mid-1950s. The map illustrates a coastline defined by intricate passes such as Big Pass and Little Pass, which separate the mainland marshes from the offshore islands.