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1945 Map of Swans Island

Name: 1945 Topographic Map of Swans Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1945
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1945

About this map

Swans Island and the neighboring Long Island define this coastal landscape during the mid-1940s, showcasing a network of island communities connected by the Ferry to Rockland. The interior of Swans Island is centered around the Stockbridge School and Stockbridge Cem, with concentrated settlements at Atlantic, Minturn, and the harbor. Further east, the town of Frenchboro on Long Island anchors the outer reaches of the archipelago, surrounded by Lunt Hbr and the open Atlantic Ocean.

The map reveals the maritime infrastructure of the era, from the Blue Hill Bay LH (lighthouse) guarding the northern waters to the vital harbor at McKinley and Bernard on the mainland's edge. This maritime character is further emphasized by the numerous named coves and passages, such as Casco Passage and Mackerel Cove, which supported the fishing and transport economy of these Hancock County islands before modern bridges or significant mainland expansion changed the pace of island life.