1960 New England Map Co. Pictorial Bird's Eye View Map of Lake Winnipesaukee

This is a c. 1960 New England Map Company pictorial bird's-eye view map of Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire.

A Closer Look

The central bird's-eye view is a much-updated version of George Walker's celebrated image of Lake Winnipesaukee. The New England Map Company used Walker's map as its base, including using letters to mark mountains and numbers to identify islands, but also added further keyed points of their own. Islands identified in large block lettering, such as Bear Island, Welch Island, and Rattlesnake Island, were not labeled on Walker's original work either. Alphabetic indexes of mountains, islands, points, and coves appear above the map, along with some 'interesting facts and thrilling sights'. A small highway map of New Hampshire appears at top center, providing viewers with a very brief understanding of how to get around the state. Views of the Weirs and the steamer Mount Washington, a sailboat out on the lake, a swimming-fishing pond, and an old covered bridge occupy the four corners.

Verso Content: Navigation and Fishing Chart

A navigation and fishing chart of Lake Winnipesaukee occupies the verso. Water depth, navigation buoy locations, ferry routes, and navigation channels are marked. Islands throughout are identified by name, along with towns along its banks. Areas where specific species of fish (bass, salmon, lake trout, etc.) might be caught are noted. Boat repair yards and gas pumps are also identified. Six seaplane bases are marked by landing strips around the lake - a point that allowed us to arrive at the c. 1960 date. Operations from The Weirs landing strip moved southwest to Paugus Bay in the late 1950s, suggesting a date of c. 1960 for this piece.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and published by the New England Map Company c. 1960. This is the only known surviving example.