{"product_id":"old-map-of-cohasset-massachusetts-by-usgs-1920-hingham-scituate-north-river","title":"Old Map of Cohasset, Massachusetts by USGS, 1920 – Hingham, Scituate \u0026 North River","description":"\u003cp\u003eTitled “Abington,” this 1920 United States Geological Survey topographical map presents a finely measured portrait of southeastern Massachusetts at a moment before the region’s later suburban expansion. Drawn at the practical 1:62,500 scale, it encompasses Cohasset, Hingham, Abington, Norwell, Rockland, Pembroke, Duxbury, Kingston, Weymouth, and Scituate, linking coastal settlements with inland towns through a precise language of contours, roads, railways, and waterways. Though named for Abington, the sheet’s interest extends across a broad landscape of harbor communities, wooded uplands, ponds, and river corridors. Its careful representation of elevation and infrastructure captures a region balanced between old maritime traditions, small-town industry, agriculture, and the early networks that would shape modern commuting patterns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe United States Geological Survey brought to maps like this a distinctive authority rooted in systematic fieldwork, standardized symbols, and national ambition. By the early twentieth century, USGS topographical sheets had become indispensable tools for engineers, planners, educators, travelers, and local officials, translating the American landscape into an accurate and elegant visual system. Here, the familiar period palette is both functional and quietly beautiful: land in soft green, water in blue, roads and railroads in fine linear detail, and contour lines threading across the sheet to describe every rise, hollow, ridge, and valley. The result is not merely a guide to place, but a disciplined portrait of terrain, settlement, and movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCohasset and Hingham are among the map’s most evocative coastal communities, each carrying deep associations with Massachusetts maritime history. Hingham, with its long harbor tradition and shipbuilding legacy, appears within a wider network of roads, rail lines, and waterways that speak to its role as both an old seaport town and a modernizing suburb of Boston. Cohasset, celebrated for its rocky shore, sea views, and historic village character, anchors the map’s coastal edge with a sense of New England permanence. Nearby Weymouth and Scituate further enrich the maritime setting, while inland towns such as Rockland and Abington reveal the industrial and residential patterns developing beyond the shoreline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe topographical character of the sheet is especially compelling in its treatment of southeastern Massachusetts’ modest but varied landforms. Unlike the dramatic mountain maps of the American West, this landscape is shaped by subtler features: low hills, shallow valleys, wetlands, ponds, and river systems left by glacial history. North Lake and South Lake stand out as important inland water bodies, while the North River winds through a landscape of town boundaries, marshy margins, and wooded ground. Contour lines give structure to this seemingly gentle terrain, revealing drainage patterns, slopes, and natural corridors. Roads, trails, and railways intersect these features, demonstrating how settlement adapted to the land rather than simply overriding it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eViewed historically, the map preserves a landscape on the edge of transformation. In 1920, much of the area still retained open land, village centers, rail-based travel, and older road systems, even as automobile routes such as what would become State Route 3A and State Route 53 pointed toward a new era of regional mobility. Since then, population growth, suburban development, expanded infrastructure, and environmental change have altered many of the towns shown here. That contrast gives the map particular value: it records Cohasset, Hingham, Abington, Norwell, Pembroke, Duxbury, Kingston, Weymouth, Scituate, and their surroundings before the full force of twentieth-century development reshaped the South Shore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCohasset\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHingham\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbington\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNorwell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRockland\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePembroke\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDuxbury\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKingston\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeymouth\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScituate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNorth Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSouth Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNorth River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eState Route 3A\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eState Route 53\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRailways\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVarious trails and waterways\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreated in 1920.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical 1:62,500 topographical map of Cohasset, Hingham, and the surrounding area in Massachusetts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrepared using precise survey data typical of USGS topographical mapping.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures a period-standard color scheme, with light greens for land and blue for water bodies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes fine linework for roads and railroads.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses detailed contour lines to show elevation changes, hills, valleys, and other landforms.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDocuments the area before later urban development, population growth, infrastructure expansion, and environmental change transformed the landscape.\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 18x24in (45x60cm) 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":68138958717319,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0257\/0344\/8638\/files\/file_abdd80ab-43f7-4a47-afff-be37d6463799.jpg?v=1794001383","url":"https:\/\/uniquemaps.com\/it\/products\/old-map-of-cohasset-massachusetts-by-usgs-1920-hingham-scituate-north-river","provider":"The Unique Maps Co.","version":"1.0","type":"link"}