Published in 1892 by the United States Geological Survey, “Drum Point” is a finely observed topographical portrait of southern Maryland where the Patuxent River opens into the broad waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Centered on Solomons and the surrounding reaches of Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties, the map captures a coastal landscape defined by tidal rivers, wooded peninsulas, low ridges, farms, roads, and scattered settlements. At a scale of 1:62,500, it offers both regional breadth and local detail, revealing the geography of a place whose fortunes were closely tied to water. The muted palette and elegant contour work are characteristic of late nineteenth-century USGS cartography, balancing scientific precision with a quiet visual grace.

The United States Geological Survey, founded in 1879, became one of the great cartographic institutions of the modern era, tasked with measuring, classifying, and depicting the nation’s varied terrain. Maps such as “Drum Point” were not merely navigational aids; they were instruments of development, conservation, engineering, and governance. By recording elevations, drainage, roads, shorelines, and settlements, the USGS created a durable geographical record of a rapidly changing country. In this Maryland sheet, the agency’s disciplined style is especially well suited to the Chesapeake landscape, where subtle changes in elevation and the intricacies of tidal water demand careful observation. The result is a map that feels both practical and contemplative.

Solomons, shown near the meeting of the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay, occupies a position of exceptional maritime importance. Known historically as Solomon’s Island, the community developed around boatbuilding, fishing, oyster harvesting, and river trade, all supported by its sheltered waters and access to the bay. The map places Solomons within a wider network of peninsulas, coves, points, and waterways, including Drum Point, Cove Point, Sandy Point, Hallowing Point, and the lower Patuxent. These names evoke a coastal world shaped by navigation and local knowledge, where land and water interlock in complex patterns. The charted roads and settlements hint at a society connected as much by creeks and bays as by overland routes.

The surrounding geography is rich with Chesapeake character. Calvert County’s western shore of the bay appears as a sequence of projecting points and embayed inlets, while across the water and river lie St. Mary’s County, Smith Point, Taylor’s Island, Dents Island, and the St. Marys River region. The topography is gentle but far from featureless: contour lines trace rolling uplands, small valleys, and the gradual descent toward tidal marshes and shorelines. The Patuxent River, broad and sinuous, dominates the composition, acting as both boundary and artery. Its confluence with the Chesapeake Bay marks a zone of ecological abundance, where brackish waters, wetlands, fisheries, and maritime routes have long sustained human settlement.

As a late nineteenth-century document, “Drum Point” offers a compelling glimpse of Maryland before the transformations of modern highways, suburban expansion, and twentieth-century coastal development. Roads are spare, settlements modest, and the landscape remains strongly organized around waterways, farms, and natural contours. For historians, collectors, and admirers of Chesapeake geography, the map preserves a moment when Solomons and its neighboring communities were still deeply embedded in a maritime economy. Its understated design rewards close reading: every creek, point, contour, and road contributes to a larger story of land use, navigation, and regional identity. The map is both a scientific survey and an evocative record of the lower Patuxent at a formative time.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Solomons, MD
• Calvert County, MD
• Point of Rocks
• Patuxent River
• Chesapeake Bay
• Taylor's Island
• Smith Point
• St. Mary's County, MD
• Dents Island
• Hallowing Point
• Sandy Point
• Lower Patuxent River
• Cove Point
• Solomon's Island
• St. Marys River

Historical context & cartographic details

• Published in 1892 by the US Geological Survey.
• Historical 1:62,500 topographical map showing Solomons, Maryland and the surrounding area.
• The US Geological Survey is known for producing detailed topographic maps used in land use planning and natural resource management.
• Solomons is situated at the confluence of the Patuxent River and the Chesapeake Bay, an area important for maritime trade and ecology.
• The map uses a muted, soft color palette typical of the period.
• Contour lines indicate elevation changes and landform details.
• Shows hills, water bodies, roads, settlements, and other natural and human-made landscape features.
• Provides insight into the geographical and infrastructural development of the area in the late 19th century.
• Serves as a reference for changes in land use and urbanization over time.

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.