{"product_id":"old-map-of-key-largo-florida-by-usgs-1947-everglades-national-park-florida-bay","title":"Old Map of Key Largo, Florida by USGS, 1947 – Everglades National Park \u0026 Florida Bay","description":"\u003cp\u003eTitled “Rock Harbor,” this US Geological Survey map was published in 1965 using survey data from 1947, preserving a mid-century portrait of Key Largo and the surrounding waters of the upper Florida Keys. At a precise 1:24,000 scale, it belongs to the classic USGS topographical tradition: meticulous, restrained, and rich in practical geographic intelligence. The map captures a coastal landscape defined less by dramatic elevation than by subtle transitions between land, mangrove, tidal water, and open sea. Its subdued greens and clean linework distinguish vegetation, low relief, waterways, roads, and settlement patterns, offering an elegant visual language for a region where the boundary between land and water is constantly negotiated.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe geography shown here is unmistakably Floridian: Key Largo stretches between Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, with Buttonwood Sound, Blackwater Sound, Largo Sound, and nearby creeks forming a lacework of sheltered marine passages. The map records the watery infrastructure of the Keys with exceptional clarity, from Angel Fish Creek and Tavernier Creek to Georges Creek and Raccoon Creek. These channels were not merely scenic features, but vital corridors for fishing, boating, local travel, and ecological exchange. The surrounding shallows, mangroves, and low-lying coastlines evoke a landscape shaped by tides, storms, limestone, and seagrass, where navigation depended on intimate knowledge of channels, keys, and sounds.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey, “Rock Harbor” reflects the agency’s mid-twentieth-century commitment to systematic national mapping. USGS quadrangles of this period were valued for their accuracy, consistency, and ability to support engineering, planning, conservation, and land management. In the Florida Keys, such mapping held particular importance, as the region was experiencing growing tourism, expanding road access, and increasing environmental scrutiny. US Route 1, the celebrated Overseas Highway, appears as a defining thread through the island chain, linking Key Largo with Tavernier, Plantation Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, and the wider archipelago. Its presence marks the transformation of the Keys from remote maritime settlements into an accessible modern destination.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe map is especially compelling for its relationship to Everglades National Park and the protected landscapes of South Florida. Established in 1947—the same year as the survey data used here—the park represented a landmark shift in American conservation, protecting not a single scenic monument but an immense, interconnected wetland ecosystem. By placing Key Largo beside Florida Bay and the Everglades region, the map reveals the ecological continuity between the mainland wetlands, the bay, and the coral-and-limestone island chain beyond. It is a cartographic snapshot of a pivotal era, when development pressures and conservation ambitions were beginning to define the future of South Florida’s coast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a historical document, “Rock Harbor” invites comparison with the modern Keys, where development, marine protection, hurricane impacts, and changing sea levels have reshaped both the built and natural environment. Places such as Coon Key, Lignumvitae Key, Tavernier, and the waters around Key Largo appear within a quieter mid-century framework, before later decades of intensified tourism and environmental regulation. The map’s topographic character is subtle but revealing: it emphasizes drainage, vegetation, shorelines, and human access rather than mountains or steep contours. In doing so, it captures the particular drama of the Florida Keys—a landscape of low relief and high ecological significance, poised between ocean, bay, and wilderness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKey Largo\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEverglades National Park\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eButtonwood Sound\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlorida Bay\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAtlantic Ocean\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTavernier\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTavanier Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLargo Sound\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGeorges Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlantation Key\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAngel Fish Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLower Matecumbe Key\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUpper Matecumbe Key\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlackwater Sound\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCoon Key\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaccoon Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLignumvitae Key\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlorida Keys\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonroe County\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUS Route 1 highway\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAssociated trails and waterways in the area\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMap title: Rock Harbor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublished by the US Geological Survey, also known as USGS.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreated using survey data from 1947 and published in 1965.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical topographical map at a scale of 1:24,000.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIllustrates Key Largo, Florida, and its surrounding coastal environment.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced to highlight significant geographical details and landscape changes in the area.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures a subdued color palette, with varying shades of green indicating elevations and land use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTypical of USGS topographical map design from the mid-20th century.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShows detailed terrain information, including elevations, waterways, and vegetation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReflects the geographical landscape of the 1940s-1960s era.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUseful for comparison with contemporary maps to observe environmental and infrastructural changes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEspecially relevant to development and conservation history in the Everglades region.\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":"Default Title","offer_id":58800902046080,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/0344\/8638\/files\/file_d368210c-efc3-4f2d-9c32-3562a88085ad.jpg?v=1787935959","url":"https:\/\/uniquemaps.net\/it\/products\/old-map-of-key-largo-florida-by-usgs-1947-everglades-national-park-florida-bay","provider":"The Unique Maps Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}