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1948 Map of Washington

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Washington
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

The Potomac River corridor serves as the central artery for this mid-century survey, anchoring a landscape heavily defined by national defense and government expansion. Surrounding the urban hubs of Washington, Alexandria, and Arlington, the map reveals a dense network of installations, including the Fort Belvoir Military Reservation and the Quantico Marine Corps Air Sta. along the western shore. Across the Chesapeake Bay, the maritime character of the Eastern Shore is detailed through the intricate coastlines of Kent Island and Tilghman Island.

Strategic communications and testing sites like the La Plata Army Radio Station Military Reservation and U.S. Naval Proving Grounds reflect the era's Cold War infrastructure. Further south, the map transitions into the rural Tidewater and Piedmont regions, featuring landmarks such as the Wakefield Washington Monument and the extensive A.P. Hill Military Reservation. This period shows the region's complex transition from a rail-dependent economy, represented by the Chesapeake and Ohio, toward a landscape increasingly shaped by large-scale federal land use.