“Nehalem,” created in 1985 and published in 1995 by the United States Geological Survey, presents the north Oregon coast around Manzanita with the clarity and authority that made USGS mapping indispensable to explorers, planners, scientists, and land managers. Issued as a provisional map, it captures a working scientific portrait of a landscape where ocean, forest, river, and settlement meet in unusually dramatic fashion. The map’s topographic language—fine contour lines, carefully differentiated water features, and precise cultural markings—reveals the steep coastal terrain rising quickly from the Pacific. Manzanita, the principal populated place in focus, appears not as an isolated seaside town but as part of a larger natural system shaped by beaches, headlands, bays, wooded slopes, and the restless edge of the continent.

The United States Geological Survey brought more than a century of cartographic discipline to this map, translating field observation, aerial survey, and geographic measurement into a richly legible record of place. Its provisional character gives it a particular historical appeal: it reflects the evolving nature of federal mapping, where new data could be issued for practical use while still forming part of an ongoing process of refinement. In the “Nehalem” sheet, the familiar USGS topographic style becomes especially expressive, using contours to dramatize elevation changes and color to distinguish forested land, settlement, roads, waterways, and the Pacific shoreline. The result is both utilitarian and evocative—a map designed for accuracy, yet alive with the textures of Oregon’s rugged coastal geography.

At the heart of the map lies Manzanita, set between the broad sweep of the Pacific Ocean and the sheltered waters of Nehalem Bay. The surrounding terrain is rendered with close attention to slope and relief, emphasizing the hills and wooded uplands that define this portion of the coast. Beaches, ponds, trails, access roads, and campgrounds suggest a landscape long valued for recreation, while the nearby Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge hints at the ecological richness offshore. Nehalem River and Nehalem Bay introduce a softer counterpoint to the exposed coast, showing how riverine and marine environments interlace. The map quietly records the complex geography that makes this area both a coastal refuge and a dynamic natural corridor.

Beyond Manzanita, the map situates a chain of northwestern Oregon communities within their broader coastal setting. Nehalem and Wheeler appear near the bay and river system, while Rockaway Beach and Garibaldi connect the viewer southward toward Tillamook Bay. Farther north, the route toward Cannon Beach evokes one of the most celebrated scenic corridors on the Oregon coast. Highway 101 serves as the principal human thread running through the landscape, linking towns, beaches, viewpoints, and forest access roads while adapting to the constraints of terrain and shoreline. The presence of Tillamook State Forest underscores the importance of timberlands and protected uplands, while the mapped trails and parks speak to a region where working landscapes and leisure destinations overlap.

As a record of the mid-1980s landscape, “Nehalem” offers more than geographical orientation; it preserves a moment in the development and environmental history of the Oregon coast. Roads, settlements, campgrounds, forest boundaries, and shoreline access points can be read as evidence of how communities engaged with a terrain at once beautiful and challenging. For historians, collectors, and admirers of coastal cartography, the map provides a baseline for studying later changes in land use, conservation, infrastructure, and recreation. Its contours reveal enduring landforms, while its cultural details mark a specific era of human presence. Elegant in its precision and rich in regional character, it is a compelling cartographic portrait of Oregon’s meeting of mountains, forest, river, bay, and sea.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Manzanita
• Nehalem
• Rockaway Beach
• Wheeler
• Garibaldi
• Cannon Beach
• Tillamook Bay
• Pacific Ocean
• Nehalem Bay
• Tillamook State Forest
• Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge
• Nehalem River
• Highway 101
• Various trails and access roads
• Campgrounds and parks in the area
• Beaches along the coast
• Nearby lakes and ponds

Historical context & cartographic details

• Name of the map: Nehalem
• Produced by: United States Geological Survey (USGS)
• Date of creation and publication: Created in 1985; published in 1995
• Special characteristics: Provisional map
• Design features: Topographical style with contour lines indicating elevation, using a color palette that clearly distinguishes land and aquatic features.
• Topographic character: Shows hilly terrain with significant elevation changes, including forests, coastal regions, and bodies of water.
• Historical significance: Captures the landscape and infrastructure as of the mid-1980s, providing a reference for studying land use, development, and environmental change over time.
• USGS context: The USGS has a long history of producing reliable scientific maps and geographic information about the Earth, natural resources, 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.