{"product_id":"old-map-of-solomons-maryland-by-usgs-1944-patuxent-river-chesapeake-bay-calvert-cliffs","title":"Old Map of Solomons, Maryland by USGS, 1944 – Patuxent River, Chesapeake Bay \u0026 Calvert Cliffs","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe original title, “Solomons Island,” gives this 1944 U.S. Geological Survey topographical map a concise but evocative focus: the waterfront community at the meeting of the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay. Drawn at a scale of 1:31,680, it captures southern Calvert County and adjacent shores with the precise, practical elegance characteristic of USGS mapping. Solomons appears not as an isolated village, but as part of a richly connected coastal landscape of creeks, points, roads, woods, fields, and shorelines. The map’s color coding and contour lines translate low hills, tidal edges, and inland clearings into a disciplined visual language, revealing the geography that shaped maritime work, settlement patterns, and movement through this Chesapeake region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProduced by the United States Geological Survey, the map belongs to one of the great cartographic traditions of American public science. Founded in 1879, the USGS became indispensable for documenting the nation’s terrain, geology, water systems, and natural resources, and its topographic sheets served engineers, planners, soldiers, conservationists, and local residents alike. Here, that institutional clarity is evident in the balance between scientific exactitude and readable design. Elevation is expressed through fine contouring; forests, fields, roads, and waterways are differentiated with restrained color and symbol. The result is both a technical record and a historical portrait, fixing Solomons and its surroundings at a particular moment in the mid-twentieth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe geography shown is unmistakably Chesapeake: intricate shorelines, sheltered coves, tidal creeks, and broad water passages dominate the composition. The Patuxent River curves through the map as a major organizing feature, widening toward its meeting with the bay and defining both transportation routes and settlement locations. Solomons, Drum Point, Cove Point, Pindall Creek, and St. Leonard Creek appear within a landscape where land and water constantly interlace. Calvert Cliffs add a notable geological presence along the bay-facing edge, their long exposure a reminder of the region’s deep natural history. Inland, the map records wooded tracts and agricultural clearings, showing a countryside still shaped by rural land use even as modern infrastructure begins to appear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDated 1944, the map also carries the atmosphere of wartime America. The presence of a Naval Reservation is especially resonant in this Chesapeake setting, where the Patuxent River area became increasingly important to naval operations during the Second World War. Solomons itself was tied to maritime activity and military training, while nearby waterways offered sheltered conditions well suited to testing, transport, and amphibious preparation. Against this background, the map’s roads, shore installations, and waterfront geography become more than local details; they suggest the strategic value of a seemingly quiet coastal community. It is a view of Maryland at a moment when rural shoreline, working waterfront, and national defense overlapped.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a historical document, “Solomons Island” is particularly compelling for the changes it invites the modern viewer to trace. The 1944 landscape preserves a pattern of modest roads and trails, clustered settlement, forested areas, and agricultural fields before later decades brought heavier development, expanded recreational boating, population growth, and environmental management around the Chesapeake Bay. Its topography makes visible the subtle elevations and drainage patterns underlying today’s communities, while its hydrographic detail records the creeks and points that have long governed life along this shore. Elegant, data-rich, and quietly atmospheric, the map offers a refined window into a distinctive Maryland waterfront world at mid-century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSolomons, MD\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePatuxent River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChesapeake Bay\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCove Point\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDrum Point\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCalvert Cliffs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNaval Reservation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePindall Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSt. Leonard Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeveral unnamed roads and trails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePoints of interest, such as parks and reserves, noted in natural areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAreas of forestation and agricultural fields depicted through color shading\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 1:31,680 topographical map shows Solomons, Maryland, and the surrounding area.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map is dated 1944.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublished by the US Geological Survey (USGS), a scientific agency of the U.S. government established in 1879.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUSGS maps are known for detailed topographical mapping and geological studies, historically informing land use, natural resource management, and urban planning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map portrays Solomons, Maryland, along with the surrounding Patuxent River and coastal features.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSolomons is a small waterfront community known for maritime activities and its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColor coding is used to represent topographical features and water bodies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eElevation levels are shown through contour lines.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map illustrates varied terrain, including hills, waterways, and forested areas, with detailed elevation data.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt provides insight into the area as it was in 1944, including infrastructure, land use, and environmental features before later urban development and population growth.\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=\"\/de\/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=\"\/de\/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=\"\/de\/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=\"\/de\/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":58792698741120,"sku":null,"price":83.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792698773888,"sku":null,"price":223.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58792698806656,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58792698839424,"sku":null,"price":83.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58792698872192,"sku":null,"price":223.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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