Rare Old Map of Beaufort, South Carolina by USGS, 1958: Port Royal, Parris Island & Lady's Island
Restored in our London workshop from the original 1960 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.
Restored in London • Printed and framed in Canada
Restored from the original 1960 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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Gift message & custom finish
If you want to add a gift message, or a finish (jigsaw, aluminium board, etc.) that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
You can also contact us before you order, if you prefer!
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Titled “Beaufort,” this United States Geological Survey topographical map was made from 1958 mapping and issued with a 1960 imprint, capturing a...
Continue readingTitled “Beaufort,” this United States Geological Survey topographical map was made from 1958 mapping and issued with a 1960 imprint, capturing a richly layered portrait of South Carolina’s Lowcountry at mid-century. At a detailed 1:24,000 scale, it presents Beaufort not as an isolated town but as the center of a tidal world shaped by creeks, rivers, islands, roads, rail lines, and military infrastructure. The USGS’s disciplined cartographic language gives the sheet both authority and elegance: blue waterways thread through green marsh and vegetation, while contouring and settlement patterns reveal the subtle textures of a coastal landscape where land and water are constantly interwoven.
Beaufort itself appears amid one of the most historically resonant landscapes in the American South. Founded in the early eighteenth century, the town occupies a strategic position between the Broad River, Battery Creek, and the island passages leading toward Port Royal Sound and the Atlantic. By the late 1950s, Beaufort was balancing its older identity—defined by plantation-era history, maritime routes, and Lowcountry architecture—with the pressures of modern growth. Residential neighborhoods, transport corridors, and developed waterfront areas shown on the map suggest a community expanding into the postwar era while remaining intimately tied to the waterways that had long governed its commerce, defense, and daily life.
The surrounding geography is especially compelling, with Port Royal, Lady’s Island, St. Helena Island, Brays Island, and the channels of the Broad, Coosaw, and Battery Creek systems forming a mosaic of islands and tidal margins. The map’s coastal topography is necessarily subtle, yet the USGS rendering makes the region’s character legible: low elevations, sinuous shorelines, marshy edges, ponds, and creeks appear as essential features rather than background detail. Roads such as US Highway 21 and SC Highway 280 trace human movement across this watery terrain, linking town, islands, and military installations in a landscape where bridges and causeways are as important as streets.
Parris Island and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot give the map a notable military dimension. Long associated with U.S. Marine training, Parris Island became one of the most important military sites in the region, and its presence on this sheet reflects the broader postwar transformation of Beaufort County. During the 1950s, military activity, expanding infrastructure, and regional development reshaped parts of the Lowcountry, even as much of the surrounding environment retained its tidal and rural character. The juxtaposition of Beaufort’s historic civic landscape with the ordered footprint of a major Marine Corps installation makes this map particularly evocative of Cold War-era America along the South Atlantic coast.
The USGS style gives “Beaufort” an understated sophistication: precise, legible, and visually balanced, with vivid greens distinguishing vegetated areas and blues emphasizing the intricate hydrology that defines the region. Railroads, highways, lakes, ponds, neighborhoods, parks, and shorelines are all presented within a coherent topographical framework, making the sheet both a practical survey document and a historical snapshot. Hunting Island State Park and the nearby barrier-island environment hint at the natural beauty and environmental significance of the area, while the mapped urban and military features record a moment before later decades of coastal development. The result is a finely observed view of Beaufort at a pivotal point between historic Lowcountry heritage and modern expansion.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Beaufort, SC
- Port Royal, SC
- Parris Island
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot
- Brays Island
- Broad River
- Battery Creek
- Coosaw River
- Lady's Island
- St. Helena Island
- Hunting Island State Park
- US Highway 21
- SC Highway 280
- Railroads
- Various lakes and ponds
- Multiple residential neighborhoods
Historical context & cartographic details
- Historical 1:24,000 topographical map of Beaufort, South Carolina and the surrounding area.
- Produced by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), known for authoritative topographical mapping and geological studies across the United States.
- Dated 1958 and published with a 1960 imprint.
- Uses a clear color palette, with vivid green for vegetation and blue for water bodies.
- Captures the coastal landscape with detailed waterways, land contours, and built environments.
- Reflects late-1950s Beaufort during a period of urban development and environmental change.
- Shows areas that may have evolved or transformed significantly since the map was made.
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.
Titled “Beaufort,” this United States Geological Survey topographical map was made from 1958 mapping and issued with a 1960 imprint, capturing a richly layered portrait of South Carolina’s Lowcountry at mid-century. At a detailed 1:24,000 scale, it presents Beaufort not as an isolated town but as the center of a tidal world shaped by creeks, rivers, islands, roads, rail lines, and military infrastructure. The USGS’s disciplined cartographic language gives the sheet both authority and elegance: blue waterways thread through green marsh and vegetation, while contouring and settlement patterns reveal the subtle textures of a coastal landscape where land and water are constantly interwoven.
Beaufort itself appears amid one of the most historically resonant landscapes in the American South. Founded in the early eighteenth century, the town occupies a strategic position between the Broad River, Battery Creek, and the island passages leading toward Port Royal Sound and the Atlantic. By the late 1950s, Beaufort was balancing its older identity—defined by plantation-era history, maritime routes, and Lowcountry architecture—with the pressures of modern growth. Residential neighborhoods, transport corridors, and developed waterfront areas shown on the map suggest a community expanding into the postwar era while remaining intimately tied to the waterways that had long governed its commerce, defense, and daily life.
The surrounding geography is especially compelling, with Port Royal, Lady’s Island, St. Helena Island, Brays Island, and the channels of the Broad, Coosaw, and Battery Creek systems forming a mosaic of islands and tidal margins. The map’s coastal topography is necessarily subtle, yet the USGS rendering makes the region’s character legible: low elevations, sinuous shorelines, marshy edges, ponds, and creeks appear as essential features rather than background detail. Roads such as US Highway 21 and SC Highway 280 trace human movement across this watery terrain, linking town, islands, and military installations in a landscape where bridges and causeways are as important as streets.
Parris Island and the Marine Corps Recruit Depot give the map a notable military dimension. Long associated with U.S. Marine training, Parris Island became one of the most important military sites in the region, and its presence on this sheet reflects the broader postwar transformation of Beaufort County. During the 1950s, military activity, expanding infrastructure, and regional development reshaped parts of the Lowcountry, even as much of the surrounding environment retained its tidal and rural character. The juxtaposition of Beaufort’s historic civic landscape with the ordered footprint of a major Marine Corps installation makes this map particularly evocative of Cold War-era America along the South Atlantic coast.
The USGS style gives “Beaufort” an understated sophistication: precise, legible, and visually balanced, with vivid greens distinguishing vegetated areas and blues emphasizing the intricate hydrology that defines the region. Railroads, highways, lakes, ponds, neighborhoods, parks, and shorelines are all presented within a coherent topographical framework, making the sheet both a practical survey document and a historical snapshot. Hunting Island State Park and the nearby barrier-island environment hint at the natural beauty and environmental significance of the area, while the mapped urban and military features record a moment before later decades of coastal development. The result is a finely observed view of Beaufort at a pivotal point between historic Lowcountry heritage and modern expansion.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Beaufort, SC
- Port Royal, SC
- Parris Island
- Marine Corps Recruit Depot
- Brays Island
- Broad River
- Battery Creek
- Coosaw River
- Lady's Island
- St. Helena Island
- Hunting Island State Park
- US Highway 21
- SC Highway 280
- Railroads
- Various lakes and ponds
- Multiple residential neighborhoods
Historical context & cartographic details
- Historical 1:24,000 topographical map of Beaufort, South Carolina and the surrounding area.
- Produced by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), known for authoritative topographical mapping and geological studies across the United States.
- Dated 1958 and published with a 1960 imprint.
- Uses a clear color palette, with vivid green for vegetation and blue for water bodies.
- Captures the coastal landscape with detailed waterways, land contours, and built environments.
- Reflects late-1950s Beaufort during a period of urban development and environmental change.
- Shows areas that may have evolved or transformed significantly since the map was made.
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.
Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.
Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.
We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.
- We can deliver directly to the recipient
- Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
- Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
- Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
- 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide
If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.
Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.
We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.
Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.
Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.
Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.
If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.
Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.
Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.
Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.
We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.
Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.
Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.
All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.
If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.
Every Unique Maps piece begins with an authentic cartographic source or an original design from our London studio.
For our historic maps, we source rare originals from libraries, archives, auction houses and private collections around the world. We carefully restore each map for print—repairing age-related damage, balancing colour and improving clarity while preserving its original detail, texture and character.
Once restored, the map is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.
Our map prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks, creating a rich, non-glossy finish designed to last. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
Canvas, cotton-rag and other specialist presentations are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.
Personalising your map
You can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. For personalised designs, we send a proof before printing and you can request changes before approval.
For more complex bespoke commissions, contact our design team.
Original or Aged
Choose Original for true-to-source colour, or Aged for a warmer, richer antique character created with our specialist ageing process. See examples of our Aged maps.
We’ve been restoring and producing maps and art prints since 1984, and we stand behind every piece.
Every order is covered by our 10-year guarantee and damage-free delivery guarantee. If your piece arrives damaged, we’ll replace or remake it free of charge. If anything else isn’t right, contact our workshop team and we’ll put it right promptly.
See our returns and refund policy for full details.
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