“Cannon Beach Quadrangle” presents a finely observed US Geological Survey portrait of Oregon’s north coast, published in 1963 from survey data gathered in 1955. At a scale of 1:62,500, it captures a landscape poised between wild Pacific drama and mid-century coastal development, with Cannon Beach placed amid headlands, forests, streams, and the sinuous edge of the ocean. The map belongs to the USGS tradition of rigorous national topographic mapping, created not merely for navigation but for understanding terrain, settlement, resources, and change. Its historical value lies in this moment of record: a postwar Oregon coast before later growth transformed roads, tourism infrastructure, and land use patterns.

The cartography is classic USGS topographic design, balancing scientific clarity with a quiet visual elegance. Contour lines articulate the rise and fall of the Coast Range foothills, while blue waterways thread through valleys toward the Pacific. Green tints distinguish forested and elevated terrain, emphasizing the dense vegetation that defines this part of Oregon, while lighter areas suggest more open or developed ground. Roads and trails trace a human network through an otherwise rugged coastal environment, revealing how settlement followed beaches, river corridors, and passes through the hills. The result is a richly legible map of relief, vegetation, hydrology, and access, all rendered with disciplined mid-century precision.

Cannon Beach, now one of Oregon’s most beloved coastal destinations, anchors the quadrangle with its celebrated shoreline and dramatic proximity to steep, forested uplands. Nearby Arch Cape and Cape Falcon evoke the alternating rhythm of sandy beaches, rocky promontories, and sheltered coves that characterizes this coast. To the north, Seaside appears as an established resort town, linked by roads and coastal routes, while Tillamook Head stands as a major natural landmark overlooking the Pacific. The map’s close attention to coastline features makes visible the forces that shaped the region: marine erosion, uplifted headlands, river mouths, and the difficult meeting place of forest, mountain, and sea.

Inland, the map reveals a landscape of streams, creeks, and wooded slopes draining toward the Pacific and the Nehalem River system. Nehalem and Wheeler, positioned near the waterways and coastal lowlands to the south, speak to the historic importance of river corridors for transport, timber, fishing, and settlement. The Necanicum River and numerous smaller channels are shown as essential organizing features, carving valleys through the terrain and guiding roads through the forest. These details make the quadrangle especially evocative as an environmental document, preserving a picture of watersheds, vegetation, and coastal ecology before subsequent decades of recreation, conservation, development, and changing forest practices.

As a historical artifact, this map offers more than geographic information: it is a measured glimpse of the Oregon coast at a particular point in time. The 1955 survey data records communities, roads, trails, and landforms during an era when Cannon Beach and its neighbors were evolving from working coastal settlements into increasingly cherished destinations for visitors, hikers, and residents. Yet the overwhelming impression remains one of natural abundance—Pacific surf, steep headlands, forested ridges, and intricate drainage patterns. For collectors, historians, and lovers of the Oregon coast, “Cannon Beach Quadrangle” combines technical authority with regional romance, transforming a precise topographic survey into a compelling record of place.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Cannon Beach
• Seaside
• Nehalem
• Arch Cape
• Cape Falcon
• Tillamook Head
• Wheeler
• Necanicum River
• Streams and Creeks (various unnamed)
• Pacific Ocean
• Existing Roads and Trails (various unnamed)
• Forests and Vegetation Areas (various unnamed)
• Coastline Features (various unnamed)
• Landmarks related to Natural Features (various unnamed)

Historical context & cartographic details

• Map Title: Cannon Beach Quadrangle
• Content Overview: Produced by the US Geological Survey, this historical 1:62,500 topographical map showcases Cannon Beach in Oregon and the surrounding area.
• Creation Date: The data for the map is from 1955, with a publication date of 1963.
• Mapmaker/Publisher: US Geological Survey, known for comprehensive mapping of the United States and for providing critical data for land use, environmental assessments, and historical references.
• Design and Cartographic Details: The map uses color to differentiate landforms, with greens for elevations, blues for water bodies, and whites for areas of less vegetation.
• Topographic Character: Detailed contour lines indicate elevation changes and show the topographical relief of the region, including elevations, landforms, and vegetation types.
• Historical Significance: Based on 1955 data, the map reflects the landscape and development of the region at that time, making it a useful historical resource for studying later changes in urban development, land use, and the environment.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed 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.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every 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.

With 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 rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.