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1898 Map of St. Marys

Name: 1898 Topographic Map of St. Marys
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1898
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1898

About this map

Chesapeake Bay dominates this late nineteenth-century maritime landscape, which covers the interconnected waterways of the Potomac River and Patuxent River. The mapping shows the intricate network of landings, points, and necks that defined Maryland's tidewater life before the advent of modern bridge systems. Small settlements like Great Mills and St. Leonard are depicted alongside coastal landmarks such as the Hooper Strait L.H. and the bustling waterfront at Solomons.

On the eastern shore, the geography of Dorchester and Somerset counties is characterized by extensive marshlands like Gum Swamp and Hog Marsh. The map records a time when water travel was the primary driver of commerce, evidenced by the numerous landings and harbors, including Shorters Landing and Cornfield Harbor, which served as vital links for local trade and the oyster industry during this era.