Titled “Key West” and published by the United States Geological Survey in 1921, this finely detailed topographical map captures the southernmost city of the continental United States at a particularly evocative moment in its history. At a scale of 1:62,500, it presents Key West, Florida, together with its neighboring keys and surrounding waters, balancing scientific precision with the romance of an island frontier. The map situates the city between the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, and the approaches to Florida Bay, emphasizing the maritime world that shaped its fortunes. In 1921, Key West was already famous for its naval importance, cigar-making heritage, wrecking economy, and cosmopolitan culture, while still retaining the intimate geography of a low-lying island community.

The US Geological Survey brought to this map the disciplined clarity for which its topographic sheets became renowned. Founded as a scientific agency charged with mapping and understanding the nation’s land and resources, the USGS transformed geography into a standardized visual language: grids for location, contours for elevation, and carefully rendered shorelines, roads, and settlements. Here, that language is applied to one of America’s most distinctive landscapes, where even small rises and depressions matter. The contour lines reveal the subtle topography of the Florida Keys, a region defined less by mountains or valleys than by limestone ridges, tidal flats, beaches, and channels. Solares Hill, the highest natural point in Key West, stands out precisely because the surrounding terrain is so remarkably low.

The city of Key West appears as a compact, gridded settlement, its streets and landmarks arranged on an island whose history has always been tied to navigation, defense, and trade. White Street and Bertha Street speak to the expanding urban fabric of the early twentieth century, while Fort Zachary Taylor anchors the western edge with the weight of military history. Built in the nineteenth century and important through the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and beyond, the fort reflects Key West’s long strategic role in guarding the approaches to the Gulf of Mexico. Offshore, Sunset Key and other nearby islands form a constellation of land fragments, reminding the viewer that Key West is not an isolated point but part of a broader archipelago.

The surrounding waters are as important as the land itself. The Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Florida Bay frame the map with a sense of passage, commerce, and exposure. Channels, shoals, and small keys shaped every aspect of life here, from fishing and sponging to naval patrols and coastal shipping. Cow Key and Boca Chica Key extend the geography eastward, tracing the chain of islands that links Key West to the rest of the Florida Keys. The Spanish name Cayo Hueso, often translated as “Bone Key,” lingers in the cultural memory of the place, recalling centuries of Spanish, Bahamian, Cuban, and American influence layered into the island’s identity.

As a historical document, this 1921 USGS map offers a compelling view of Key West before later waves of tourism, military expansion, infrastructure development, and modern coastal change reshaped the region. Its topographic style gives unusual dignity to a landscape where elevation is measured in modest increments, yet where geography has carried immense consequence. The grid, contours, shorelines, and named features together form a portrait of an island city poised between natural vulnerability and human ambition. For collectors, the map is especially appealing because it records not merely where Key West was, but how it was understood: as a strategic outpost, a maritime crossroads, and a singular tropical edge of the American map.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Key West
• Sunset Key
• Solares Hill
• Fort Zachary Taylor
• Cow Key
• Boca Chica Key
• Cayo Hueso
• White Street
• Bertha Street
• Atlantic Ocean
• Gulf of Mexico
• Florida Bay

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the US Geological Survey, this historical topographical map shows Key West, Florida, and the surrounding area.
• The map is dated 1921 and carries a 1921 imprint.
• Scale: 1:62,500.
• The US Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the U.S. government, known for mapping and assessing land and natural resources.
• Key West is known for its rich history, vibrant culture, and strategic significance as a naval base in the Florida Keys.
• The map features a grid format to help show the relative positioning of terrains and structures.
• Contour lines indicate elevation changes across the mapped area.
• The map shows a mix of land and water features, reflecting the low-lying topography characteristic of the Florida Keys.
• It offers insight into the geographic layout of Key West in 1921, including the relationship between urban development and natural landscapes.

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 18x24in (45x60cm) 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.