1929 Promotional Map of Morgantown, Maryland

A scarce c. 1929 promotional map and brochure for Morgantown, Maryland, stylized here as 'Morgantown-on-the-Potomac,' advertising it as a getaway for the well-to-do of Washington, D.C.

A Closer Look

The recto features an innovative combination of map and photo to demonstrate the location of Morgantown while also giving a sense of its surroundings and waterfront situation. Promotional text and images surround the map and continue on the verso, highlighting the town's proximity to the nation's capital (only 47 miles) and the various activities available there, including a waterslide, fishing, crabbing, and 'free dancing', among others. It was meant to appeal to clubs and organizations, such as the Order of the Eastern Star chapter pictured at top on the verso.

Historical Context

This brochure is the product of a movement to capitalize on demand for recreational activities and resorts near major metropolitan centers, aided by improved transportation (including paved roads and private automobiles) and the economic boom of the 1920s. In this case, competing resorts sprang up along the Potomac River in Charles County Maryland catering to residents of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. Located on a point jutting into the Potomac roughly half-way between Washington, D.C. and the Chesapeake Bay, the town could make a compelling case for being close enough to the city to be accessible while being far away enough to offer a rustic escape.

Publication History and Census

This map was prepared by Morgantown-on-the-Potomac, which appears to have been both an effort to rename or rebrand the city and a business organization based in Laurel, Maryland. In any event, no information is available on this organization, and we can find no other renderings of the town's name in this fashion. Similarly, we are unaware of any other examples of this map and brochure in institutional collections or on the market. The map is undated but was likely produced in 1928 or 1929 based on the dated photograph on the verso.