1952 Map of St. Charles Bay

About this map

St Charles Bay dominates this coastal landscape, separating the Lamar Peninsula from the protected expanse of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge on the Blackjack Peninsula. The 1950s era finds the region defined by its water-dependent industry and navigation, with the Intracoastal Waterway Bludworth Island cutting through the complex of bays and islands to the south. Local landmarks like the Big Tree and the Star of the Sea Chapel provide cultural anchors on the Lamar side, while numerous family-named windmills like the McHugh Windmill and Alamos Windmill speak to the ranching operations that once thrived alongside the salt marshes. This survey captures the transition of the Texas coast into a hub of conservation and waterway commerce, evidenced by the presence of Goose Island State Park and the network of gas wells and pumping stations dotting the peninsula.