1943 Map of Tangier Island

About this map

Tangier and its surrounding marshlands are preserved here during the mid-war era, documenting the precarious geography of this isolated island community. The settlement is anchored by the Main Ridge, West Ridge, and Canton Ridge, reflecting a way of life deeply tied to the rhythms of the Chesapeake Bay. The maritime economy is evident through features like Mailboat Harbor and Oyster Creek, while navigation is supported by the Inner Light and the distant Tangier Sound Lighthouse. To the east, Watts Island and its own Watts Island Lighthouse stand as prominent landmarks in Pocomoke Sound. This survey captures the fragile coastal landforms, from the Sand Spit to the fragmented reaches of Goose Island, at a scale that highlights the intricate network of guts and marshes like Toms Gut and Fishing Gut.