1947 Map of The Narrows

About this map

Fort Wadsworth and Fort Lafayette stand as sentinels overlooking the critical maritime corridor between Staten Island and Brooklyn during this mid-century period. The landscape is a mix of dense residential development and significant institutional footprints, including the Moravian Cemetery, the grounds of Wagner College, and the sprawling Miller Field U S Military Reservation. The shoreline is defined by recreational and social infrastructure, from the St Johns Seaside Hospital for Children to the beach communities of Midland Beach and Oakwood Beach. Inland, the Staten Island Rapid Transit line connects a series of established neighborhoods like Dongan Hills and Grasmere, while lighthouses and shoals such as Romer Shoal and Old Orchard Shoal mark the hazardous approach to the harbor.