Rare Old Map of Portland, Maine by USGS, 1944: South Portland, Westbrook & Back Cove
Restored in our London workshop from the original 1948 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 the EU
Restored from the original 1948 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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Published with a 1948 imprint from 1944 survey information, the US Geological Survey’s “Portland West” presents mid-century Portland, Maine, in crisp 1:24,000...
Continue readingPublished with a 1948 imprint from 1944 survey information, the US Geological Survey’s “Portland West” presents mid-century Portland, Maine, in crisp 1:24,000 topographic detail. The sheet captures a city poised between wartime industry and postwar expansion, with central Portland set amid its peninsulas, coves, tidal rivers, rail lines, and emerging suburban edges. South Portland, Westbrook, Scarborough, and the surrounding shorelands appear as part of a connected coastal landscape shaped by transportation, commerce, and water. The map’s quiet precision gives particular pleasure: roads, railways, schools, parks, wetlands, and shorelines are rendered with the disciplined clarity for which the US Geological Survey became renowned.
The US Geological Survey, established in the late nineteenth century, brought scientific rigor to the mapping of the American landscape, and this Portland sheet reflects that institutional authority. Its conventional contour lines reveal the subtle but consequential terrain of southern Maine: low coastal ground, modest highlands, river valleys, and the uneven rise of developed neighborhoods. Greens and browns distinguish lower and higher ground, while blue waterways and coastal margins articulate the geography of Casco Bay and its approaches. The result is both utilitarian and elegant—a map designed for engineers, planners, soldiers, walkers, and civic officials, yet rich enough today to reward close historical reading.
Portland itself appears as a compact urban center defined by water on several sides, with Back Cove curving north of the city and the Fore River shaping its industrial and maritime southern edge. Deering Oaks Park is visible as a treasured green space near the heart of the city, while streets and rail corridors trace the patterns of commerce and commuting. Across the water, South Portland shows the close relationship between harbor, shoreline, and settlement. The ferry-linked islands and coastal features of Casco Bay hint at the region’s enduring maritime identity, where working waterfronts, residential districts, and recreational shores have long existed in close proximity.
Westbrook and Scarborough extend the narrative beyond the city proper, showing Portland’s wider metropolitan geography at a moment when suburban growth was beginning to accelerate. The Presumpscot River winds through the northern and western portions of the area, a historic corridor of mills, transport, and settlement. Major roads, including U.S. Route 1, reveal the automobile’s growing role in reshaping movement along the Maine coast. Railways remain prominent as well, underscoring the transitional character of the 1940s landscape: a region still tied to older industrial networks, yet increasingly oriented toward highways, residential expansion, and the dispersed development patterns of the postwar era.
As a historical document, “Portland West” is especially evocative because it records the city and its neighboring communities just after World War II, before later decades transformed the waterfront, suburbs, and transportation corridors. Undeveloped tracts, marshes, parks, and open ground stand alongside dense street grids and industrial margins, offering a layered view of land use in mid-century southern Maine. The contours and shorelines remind the viewer that Portland’s history has always been governed by terrain and tide as much as by commerce and architecture. It is a beautifully measured portrait of a coastal city at a pivotal moment, balancing old maritime patterns with the pressures of modern growth.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Portland
- South Portland
- Westbrook
- Scarborough
- Back Cove
- Presumpscot River
- Fore River
- Deering Oaks Park
- Millcreek Park
- U.S. Route 1
- Railways
- Islands in Casco Bay
- Peaks and highlands
- Coastal features and shorelines
Historical context & cartographic details
- Historical 1:24,000 topographical map titled Portland West
- Based on 1944 mapping, with a 1948 imprint
- Produced by the US Geological Survey
- Uses clear contour lines to show elevation and terrain
- Features greens for lower areas and browns for higher elevations
- Includes shaded relief and water features for a detailed topographic representation
- Captures the area’s post-World War II geography and development
- Highlights mid-20th-century patterns of growth alongside remaining undeveloped regions
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 18x24in (45x60cm) 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.
Published with a 1948 imprint from 1944 survey information, the US Geological Survey’s “Portland West” presents mid-century Portland, Maine, in crisp 1:24,000 topographic detail. The sheet captures a city poised between wartime industry and postwar expansion, with central Portland set amid its peninsulas, coves, tidal rivers, rail lines, and emerging suburban edges. South Portland, Westbrook, Scarborough, and the surrounding shorelands appear as part of a connected coastal landscape shaped by transportation, commerce, and water. The map’s quiet precision gives particular pleasure: roads, railways, schools, parks, wetlands, and shorelines are rendered with the disciplined clarity for which the US Geological Survey became renowned.
The US Geological Survey, established in the late nineteenth century, brought scientific rigor to the mapping of the American landscape, and this Portland sheet reflects that institutional authority. Its conventional contour lines reveal the subtle but consequential terrain of southern Maine: low coastal ground, modest highlands, river valleys, and the uneven rise of developed neighborhoods. Greens and browns distinguish lower and higher ground, while blue waterways and coastal margins articulate the geography of Casco Bay and its approaches. The result is both utilitarian and elegant—a map designed for engineers, planners, soldiers, walkers, and civic officials, yet rich enough today to reward close historical reading.
Portland itself appears as a compact urban center defined by water on several sides, with Back Cove curving north of the city and the Fore River shaping its industrial and maritime southern edge. Deering Oaks Park is visible as a treasured green space near the heart of the city, while streets and rail corridors trace the patterns of commerce and commuting. Across the water, South Portland shows the close relationship between harbor, shoreline, and settlement. The ferry-linked islands and coastal features of Casco Bay hint at the region’s enduring maritime identity, where working waterfronts, residential districts, and recreational shores have long existed in close proximity.
Westbrook and Scarborough extend the narrative beyond the city proper, showing Portland’s wider metropolitan geography at a moment when suburban growth was beginning to accelerate. The Presumpscot River winds through the northern and western portions of the area, a historic corridor of mills, transport, and settlement. Major roads, including U.S. Route 1, reveal the automobile’s growing role in reshaping movement along the Maine coast. Railways remain prominent as well, underscoring the transitional character of the 1940s landscape: a region still tied to older industrial networks, yet increasingly oriented toward highways, residential expansion, and the dispersed development patterns of the postwar era.
As a historical document, “Portland West” is especially evocative because it records the city and its neighboring communities just after World War II, before later decades transformed the waterfront, suburbs, and transportation corridors. Undeveloped tracts, marshes, parks, and open ground stand alongside dense street grids and industrial margins, offering a layered view of land use in mid-century southern Maine. The contours and shorelines remind the viewer that Portland’s history has always been governed by terrain and tide as much as by commerce and architecture. It is a beautifully measured portrait of a coastal city at a pivotal moment, balancing old maritime patterns with the pressures of modern growth.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Portland
- South Portland
- Westbrook
- Scarborough
- Back Cove
- Presumpscot River
- Fore River
- Deering Oaks Park
- Millcreek Park
- U.S. Route 1
- Railways
- Islands in Casco Bay
- Peaks and highlands
- Coastal features and shorelines
Historical context & cartographic details
- Historical 1:24,000 topographical map titled Portland West
- Based on 1944 mapping, with a 1948 imprint
- Produced by the US Geological Survey
- Uses clear contour lines to show elevation and terrain
- Features greens for lower areas and browns for higher elevations
- Includes shaded relief and water features for a detailed topographic representation
- Captures the area’s post-World War II geography and development
- Highlights mid-20th-century patterns of growth alongside remaining undeveloped regions
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 18x24in (45x60cm) 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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