1942 Map of Tilghman

About this map

Tilghman Island anchors this coastal survey, illustrating the maritime character of the Maryland Eastern Shore during the early 1940s. The geography is defined by a intricate network of waterways, where Dogwood Harbor and Knapps Narrows serve as vital conduits for the local watermen. The primary settlements of Tilghman, Avalon, and Fairbank are clustered along the island's narrow spine, while across Harris Creek to the east, the village of Neavitt sits amidst a landscape of points and coves like Balls Creek and Turkey Neck Point. The southern tip terminates at the sharp profile of Blackwalnut Point, marking the entrance to the Choptank River. This map preserves the mid-century layout of these fishing and boat-building communities before modern development changed the traditional waterfront, documenting the various landings and small roads that linked these isolated peninsula villages to the mainland and the Chesapeake Bay.