1961 Map of Washington

About this map

The Potomac River serves as the central artery of this mid-century landscape, dividing the urbanizing centers of Washington, Alexandria, and Arlington from the increasingly strategic installations along its banks. The map highlights a massive military presence during the Cold War era, from the U S Naval Academy at Annapolis to the expansive A P Hill Military Reservation and U S Naval Proving Grounds. Transportation patterns reflect a period of transition, featuring the Shirley Highway and the Baltimore & Ohio RR alongside the intricate waterways of the Chesapeake Bay. To the west, the terrain rises toward the Blue Ridge Mts, where landmarks like Little Cobbler Mt stand above rural crossroads. This survey captures a moment when colonial heritage sites, such as the George Washington Birthplace National Monument, existed alongside the sprawling federal footprint of the 1950s and early 60s.