{"product_id":"old-map-of-harkers-island-north-carolina-1951-by-usgs-beaufort-shackleford-banks-core-sound","title":"Old Map of Harkers Island, North Carolina, 1951 by USGS – Beaufort, Shackleford Banks \u0026 Core Sound","description":"\u003cp\u003eTitled “Harkers Island,” this 1951 United States Geological Survey topographical map captures a distinctive stretch of the North Carolina coast at a moment when its island communities, waterways, and maritime routes were still defined by close dependence on the surrounding sounds and ocean. Published and dated in 1951, the map reflects the USGS’s mid-twentieth-century commitment to precise, standardized mapping at the 1:24,000 scale. Its subject is a low-lying coastal world where Harkers Island sits amid Back Sound, Core Sound, and the broader reach of the Atlantic, with Beaufort, Straits, Williston, Mill Creek, Eastman Island, Shell Point, Shackleford Banks, Lookout Bight, and Onslow Bay forming a richly detailed regional setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe map’s design is classic USGS: disciplined, legible, and scientific, yet visually evocative in the way it renders the meeting of land and water. Color coding distinguishes terrain, hydrography, roads, trails, and built features, while contour lines describe subtle variations in elevation across an area where even small rises matter. In this coastal landscape, topography is not dramatic in height but intricate in texture, with marshes, ponds, islands, banks, inlets, and shorelines carefully differentiated. The result is a portrait of place that rewards close study, revealing how settlement, movement, and navigation were shaped by fragile margins between firm ground, tidal wetland, and open water.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHarkers Island itself appears as the map’s central human and geographic focus, a settlement positioned within a network of sounds, creeks, and local access routes. The surrounding names evoke a maritime culture rooted in fishing, boatbuilding, shellfishing, and coastal travel, where roads and trails intersect with channels and shorelines rather than replacing them. Nearby Straits and Williston show the relationship between mainland communities and island life, while Mill Creek and other smaller water bodies emphasize the area’s sheltered, estuarine character. The notated ponds and marshes are especially telling, documenting a landscape of ecological complexity long before modern conversations about coastal resilience became commonplace.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo the south and east, Shackleford Banks, Lookout Bight, Onslow Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean place the map within one of the most dynamic coastal environments in the United States. Barrier islands and banks along this shore have always been shaped by wind, tide, storms, and currents, and the map’s coastal outlines preserve a historical snapshot of features that can shift over time. Lookout Bight, with its sheltered waters, suggests the navigational importance of the Cape Lookout region, while Shackleford Banks marks the outer protective edge between the sounds and the open Atlantic. These features give the map both geographic elegance and historical consequence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a historical document, “Harkers Island” offers a compelling comparison between the North Carolina coast of 1951 and the region known today. It records settlement patterns, access routes, marsh boundaries, and shore configurations from a period before later development, environmental regulation, expanded tourism, and accelerating shoreline change transformed much of the coast. Created by the USGS, an institution central to American scientific mapping and natural-resource understanding, the map combines practical survey information with enduring historical insight. It is particularly valuable for appreciating how communities adapted to a watery landscape, where geography was never static and where land, tide, and human activity were inseparably connected.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarkers Island\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBeaufort\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStraits\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWilliston\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMill Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEastman Island\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShell Point\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShackleford Banks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLookout Bight\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnslow Bay\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAtlantic Ocean\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBack Sound\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCore Sound\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVarious smaller water bodies and inlets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoads and trails throughout the area, including local access routes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeveral notated ponds and marsh areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey, this historical 1:24,000 topographical map shows Harkers Island in North Carolina and the surrounding area.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map is dated 1951; USGS records the publication year as 1951, with no separate imprint year specified.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe US Geological Survey is known for providing reliable scientific data and maps for public use, supporting understanding of natural resources and hazards.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map uses a clear, systematic design typical of USGS topographical maps.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eColor coding is used to distinguish different types of terrain and water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eContour lines and shading show elevation and terrain relief.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe map illustrates a coastal landscape with islands, marshlands, water bodies, and other features characteristic of coastal North Carolina.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIt provides insight into the landscape and development of Harkers Island in 1951, including changes in land use, population density, and environmental conditions over time.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDistinct water features, coastal outlines, navigation routes, and landmarks are carefully annotated throughout the 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=\"\/fr\/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=\"\/fr\/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=\"\/fr\/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=\"\/fr\/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":67887773647239,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":67887773680007,"sku":null,"price":202.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":67887773712775,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":67887773745543,"sku":null,"price":75.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":67887773778311,"sku":null,"price":202.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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