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1954 Map of Three Islands

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Three Islands
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1984
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1984

About this map

Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge dominates the western coastline of the Laguna Madre in this mid-century coastal study. The map documents a landscape defined by shallow hypersaline waters and complex estuarine features, including the Arroyo Colorado Cutoff and the winding Resaca de los Cuates. The central bay is populated by a chain of namesake landforms, including Primero Island, Medio Island, and Ultimo Island, alongside the larger Horse Island and Caballo Island.

Maritime navigation and industrial changes are evident through the Intracoastal Waterway and various spoil areas that indicate significant dredging and channel maintenance. Significant landmarks like Red Head Bluff and Townsite Point provide reference points for local history researchers, while the vast expanse of Padre Island to the east serves as the final barrier against the Gulf. The presence of a Drill Hole and numerous navigational lights such as Light 326 and Light 9 reflect the area's mid-century role in both resource extraction and coastal transit.