Old Map of Orange Beach, Alabama by USGS, 1943 – Gulf of Mexico & Perdido Bay

Titled “Foley,” this 1943 United States Geological Survey topographical map captures a quietly fascinating stretch of coastal Alabama, extending from the inland approaches around Foley toward Orange Beach, Perdido Bay, Little Lagoon, Bayou St. John, and the Gulf of Mexico. Produced from survey data gathered in the same year, it presents the region at a pivotal moment before the postwar transformation of the Gulf Coast into a major recreational and residential landscape. At a scale of 1:62,500, the map balances broad regional coverage with fine topographic detail, recording waterways, roads, trails, marshy margins, and settlement patterns with the measured precision characteristic of USGS cartography.

The United States Geological Survey brought to this map the disciplined visual language that made its quadrangles indispensable to engineers, planners, geologists, soldiers, and travelers. Founded in 1879, the USGS became the authoritative mapper of American terrain, transforming local geography into a standardized national record. In “Foley,” that tradition is evident in the clean grid overlay, careful contouring, and hierarchy of symbols distinguishing landforms, watercourses, transportation routes, and inhabited places. The design is practical rather than ornamental, yet its austerity has a distinctive elegance: a mid-twentieth-century map built for use, where every line is purposeful and the landscape is allowed to speak through measured detail.

Orange Beach appears here before the dense development now associated with Alabama’s Gulf shoreline. The map evokes a coastal world of bays, lagoons, creeks, and sandy margins, where settlement remained comparatively sparse and the natural rhythms of the coast were still visually dominant. Perdido Bay forms a major eastern presence, while Bayou St. John, Little Lagoon, Oleander Lagoon, and Cowan’s Lake articulate the watery complexity of the region. These features reveal a landscape shaped by tidal influence, low relief, and the meeting of freshwater drainage with the Gulf’s barrier and estuarine systems. For collectors, such coastal mapping is especially compelling because shorelines, wetlands, and communities often change dramatically over time.

The topographical character of the map is subtle but richly informative. Rather than dramatic mountains or steep valleys, it records the nuanced elevations of the Gulf Coastal Plain, where contour lines trace gentle rises, shallow depressions, and the transition from inland ground to low coastal margins. Roads and trails thread between waterways and settlements, suggesting patterns of movement before the modern dominance of resort highways and coastal infrastructure. Forested or undeveloped tracts likely occupied much of the surrounding countryside, reflecting a region tied to timber, fishing, small communities, and maritime access. In this sense, the map is not merely a navigational document, but a portrait of a working coastal landscape.

Created in 1943, “Foley” also belongs to the cartographic world of the Second World War, when accurate domestic mapping carried heightened importance for logistics, training, resource management, and coastal awareness. The Gulf Coast’s bays, inlets, roads, and settlements were of practical concern in an era of military mobilization, shipbuilding, and expanded federal attention to national geography. Today, the map offers a valuable historical benchmark for understanding environmental and urban change along Alabama’s coast. Comparing its depiction of Orange Beach, Perdido Bay, and surrounding inland areas with modern geography reveals the scale of later development, shoreline alteration, and ecological transformation in one of the Gulf South’s most dynamic coastal regions.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Orange Beach, Alabama
• Gulf of Mexico
• Perdido Bay
• Bayou St. John
• Cowan's Lake
• Little Lagoon
• Oleander Lagoon
• Various rivers and creeks
• Roads and trails
• Parks and forests

Historical context & cartographic details

• Historical 1:62,500 topographical map titled Foley
• Created in 1943 using survey data from that year
• Published by the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
• Shows Orange Beach, Alabama and surrounding coastal and inland areas
• Features a detailed grid overlay typical of USGS topographic maps
• Uses contour lines to depict elevation changes and the region’s topographical character
• Reflects 1940s cartographic design, emphasizing clarity and practical navigation
• Displays varied Gulf Coast terrain, including coastal areas, waterways, and possibly forested regions
• Provides insight into the region’s geography during the 1940s
• Useful for comparing historical geography with modern urban development and environmental change

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.