Created in 1956 and published with a 1958 imprint, the US Geological Survey’s “York Harbor” presents a mid-century portrait of the southern Maine coast at the precise 1:24,000 scale for which USGS quadrangles are prized. Centered on York and its harbor, the map captures a landscape where maritime village, wooded upland, river valley, and Atlantic shoreline meet in close succession. Its title evokes one of Maine’s most historic coastal settlements, yet the sheet extends beyond the harbor itself to include surrounding communities and routes that shaped the region’s daily life. The result is both a scientific document and a quietly evocative record of place: York before later waves of coastal development, preserved through contour, road, river, and shore.

The cartography reflects the disciplined clarity of the USGS topographic tradition. Contour lines articulate the area’s rolling terrain, tracing the rise of hills, the descent into stream valleys, and the subtle relief that defines this part of coastal New England. Green shading marks wooded or elevated terrain, while the road network, waterways, and settlement patterns are rendered with the crisp hierarchy typical of mid-twentieth-century federal mapping. Rather than dramatizing the landscape, the map reveals it through accumulation of exact detail: the curve of Route 1, the presence of Route 91, the small roads and trails threading inland from the shore, and the close relationship between built settlement and natural form.

York itself is the anchor of the map, but the surrounding names give the sheet its broader historical texture. York Harbor, Cape Neddick, Ogunquit, Kittery, and South Berwick all appear within a compact coastal world shaped by fishing, trade, travel, and summer resort culture. The York River and Ogunquit River structure the terrain, joined by smaller waterways such as the Sandy River and Little River, each contributing to the drainage and settlement pattern of the region. Harris Island and the indented coastline hint at the maritime geography that made this stretch of Maine both strategically important and visually distinctive, from colonial-era settlement to twentieth-century tourism.

Inland, the map’s topographic character becomes especially compelling around Mount Agamenticus, one of the most recognizable high points in southern Maine. Rising above the surrounding hills and lowlands, it forms a natural landmark visible across the region and an organizing feature within the map’s contour work. The hills and valleys around York show a landscape more varied than the popular image of a simple seaside town might suggest. Great Falls and the river corridors further emphasize how water and elevation shaped movement, settlement, and industry. Trails, rural roads, and scattered development reveal a territory balanced between coastal attraction and inland working landscape.

As a historical document, “York Harbor” offers a revealing snapshot of southern Maine in the postwar years, when automobile routes, expanding towns, and recreational travel were beginning to reshape older coastal communities. Route 1 appears as a defining artery, connecting York, Ogunquit, Kittery, and the wider New England coast, while smaller roads preserve the pattern of local movement between farms, villages, coves, and uplands. The map invites comparison with the present: areas that were once more open, wooded, or lightly developed have in many cases changed through residential growth, tourism, and infrastructure expansion. Its enduring appeal lies in this layered perspective—scientific, geographic, and historical at once.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• York
• South Berwick
• Kittery
• Cape Neddick
• Ogunquit
• York River
• Ogunquit River
• Great Falls
• Sandy River
• Little River
• York Harbor
• Mount Agamenticus
• Harris Island
• Route 1
• Route 91
• Various trails and roads in the region

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the US Geological Survey, this historical 1:24,000 topographical map shows York, Maine, and the surrounding area.
• Created in 1956 and published in 1958.
• Published by the US Geological Survey, known for detailed topographic mapping and scientific research relating to natural resources and natural hazards in the United States.
• Uses a clear color scheme with shades of green indicating elevation and terrain types.
• Shows varied terrain with contour lines indicating elevation changes, including hills and valleys.
• Reflects the mid-20th century landscape of York, offering insight into historical land use, development, infrastructure, and later urban expansion.

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.