1948 Map of Washington

About this map

The Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay define this mid-century landscape, illustrating the critical maritime and military infrastructure of the National Capital Region. In the years following World War II, the area is characterized by a high concentration of federal installations, from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis to the sprawling Fort Belvoir Military Reservation. The map captures the transition from the densely populated urban centers of Washington and Alexandria to the rural Tidewater and the Blue Ridge foothills.