{"product_id":"old-map-of-narragansett-rhode-island-by-usgs-1944-south-kingstown-point-judith-scarborough-beach","title":"Old Map of Narragansett, Rhode Island by USGS, 1944 – South Kingstown, Point Judith \u0026 Scarborough Beach","description":"\u003cp\u003e“Narragansett Pier,” issued by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1944 at the finely resolved scale of 1:31,680, presents one of Rhode Island’s most storied coastal districts with scientific precision and quiet visual elegance. Centered on Narragansett and its celebrated seaside village, the map captures a landscape where resort culture, fishing communities, salt ponds, beaches, marshes, and maritime routes converge. The Atlantic Ocean frames the composition to the south and east, while Narragansett Bay and its approaches lend the sheet a distinctly nautical character. In its careful balance of land and water, roads and relief, settlement and shoreline, the map offers a compelling mid-twentieth-century portrait of a place shaped by both natural beauty and coastal enterprise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe U.S. Geological Survey brought to this map the disciplined clarity that made its topographic sheets indispensable to engineers, planners, soldiers, scientists, and travelers. Founded in the late nineteenth century, the USGS established a national standard for mapping the American landscape, using consistent symbols, measured contours, and meticulous field observation. Here, that methodical tradition is evident in the crisp delineation of hills, valleys, streams, roads, and rail lines. Contour lines, varied in spacing and weight, give a tactile sense of the terrain: the low coastal rises around Narragansett, the subtle inland undulations of South Kingstown, and the flatter, wetter expanses near ponds and marshes. It is a map made for practical navigation, yet rich with historical atmosphere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe geography shown is especially evocative. Narragansett Pier appears as the social and coastal heart of the sheet, associated with grand hotels, beaches, and the fashionable seaside life that had drawn visitors since the nineteenth century. To the south, Point Judith projects into the Atlantic, a landmark long familiar to mariners and fishermen navigating Rhode Island’s exposed southern shore. Nearby Galilee, Salt Pond, and Scarborough Beach speak to the region’s enduring relationship with the sea: fishing fleets, summer bathing, tidal inlets, and barrier beaches. Bonnet Shores and Narrow River mark the transition between open coast and sheltered estuary, while inland features such as the Great Swamp and Saugatucket River reveal a more pastoral and ecological dimension to the landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a 1944 map, “Narragansett Pier” belongs to a moment when American coastal geography carried heightened strategic and logistical importance. During the Second World War, accurate mapping of shorelines, roads, railroads, waterways, and settlements was not merely civic infrastructure but a matter of national preparedness. The sheet also preserves the region at a pivotal stage in its modern development, before postwar suburban growth and automobile tourism transformed many coastal communities. Its network of coastal roads and trails records established movement through the landscape, while railroad lines recall earlier patterns of travel that linked seaside resorts and rural towns to broader New England markets. The map thus documents both leisure and utility, maritime tradition and modern mobility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cartographic style gives the sheet its enduring appeal: a rich yet disciplined palette differentiates water, woodland, built areas, roads, and relief without obscuring the underlying geography. Narragansett Bay, the East Passage, Dutch Island, and Beavertail Lighthouse place the local scene within the wider maritime setting of Rhode Island’s coast, where channels, islands, and headlands have long directed navigation. The meeting of ocean, bay, pond, river, swamp, and settlement creates a varied coastal topography that the USGS renders with admirable restraint. Every feature, from the sweep of Scarborough Beach to the traced courses of the Narrow and Saugatucket Rivers, contributes to a layered portrait of place: measured, legible, and deeply rooted in the historical geography of southern Rhode Island.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNarragansett\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNarragansett Pier\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSouth Kingstown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePoint Judith\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGalilee\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScarborough Beach\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBonnet Shores\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNarrow River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreat Swamp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSaugatucket River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAtlantic Ocean\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBeavertail Lighthouse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSalt Pond\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNarragansett Bay\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDutch Island\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEast Passage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoastal roads and trails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRailroad lines\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey, this historical topographical map shows Narragansett, Rhode Island and the surrounding area in 1944.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map is drawn at a scale of 1:31,680.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe US Geological Survey is known for detailed geological and topographical mapping in the United States.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNarragansett is known for its coastal attractions and historical importance in Rhode Island’s maritime heritage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map features contour lines to show elevation changes, using varied line thickness and spacing to represent terrain relief.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt outlines hills, valleys, water bodies and coastlines, giving a clear overview of the area’s geography.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map reflects mid-20th century land use and development in Narragansett.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt is useful for understanding changes in urban and coastal landscapes over time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIts rich color palette and clear delineation of features highlight careful attention to topographic detail.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/it\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/it\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/it\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/it\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58815468339584,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58815468372352,"sku":null,"price":105.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58815468405120,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58815468437888,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58815468470656,"sku":null,"price":105.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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