1956 Map of Washington East

About this map

The Anacostia River serves as the central artery for this mid-century survey, dividing the dense urban expansion of the District of Columbia from the developing suburbs of Prince George's County. In Maryland, the University of Maryland campus and the historic College Park Airport anchor the northern landscape, while residential growth is visible in neighborhoods like Takoma Park and Langley Park. The map reveals a land heavily utilized for public and institutional purposes, from the expansive National Arboretum and Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens to a series of Civil War-era defensive sites including Fort Bunker Hill and Fort Totten.