1957 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 burgeoning suburbs of Prince George's County. In the northeast, the College Park Airport stands as a focal point of early aviation history, while further east lies the Schrom Airport, already noted as out of use by the late 1950s. The map illustrates a landscape transitioning from institutional grounds and recreation to residential density, featuring landmarks like the National Arboretum and the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. Substantial cemetery tracts, including Mt Olivet Cemetery and Fort Lincoln Cemetery, occupy large segments of the terrain alongside established religious and educational institutions such as the Franciscan Monastery and Gallaudet College. Significant transportation corridors, including the B & O RR and the Baltimore-Washington Pkwy, highlight the connectivity driving the growth of communities like Hyattsville, Takoma Park, and Mount Rainier during this era of post-war suburbanization.