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1948 Map of Washington

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

USGS Topo · Published 1948

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.

Logistics and transport are anchored by major rail lines like the Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac RR and the Southern RR, which connected the capital to the South. Cultural and historical landmarks are well-represented, including the Wakefield Washington Monument and established educational institutions such as St. Marys College and Rappahannock Academy. The intricate coastline of the Eastern Shore, featuring Tilghman Island and the Honga River, highlights a region deeply tied to its water-based economy and legacy settlements.