Titled “Dennis,” this 1943 United States Geological Survey topographical map presents a finely observed portrait of central Cape Cod, focusing on Dennis and Yarmouth, Massachusetts, at a scale of 1:31,680. It captures the peninsula between the open waters of Cape Cod Bay to the north and Nantucket Sound to the south, revealing a landscape defined by tidal inlets, ponds, creeks, roads, and coastal settlements. Produced during a period when USGS mapping was prized for both civilian planning and national utility, the map records Cape Cod before many later waves of suburban and resort development. Its careful delineation of roads, shorelines, waterways, and relief makes it a quietly evocative document of the Cape’s mid-twentieth-century geography.

The United States Geological Survey, established in 1879, became the authoritative cartographic institution for mapping the nation’s terrain, resources, and natural hazards. By the 1940s, its topographic sheets had achieved a distinctive visual language: precise contour lines, measured hydrography, and a disciplined treatment of roads, settlements, and landforms. This map of Dennis reflects that mature USGS style, balancing scientific clarity with a remarkable sense of place. Contours trace the subtle rises and hollows of Cape Cod’s glacial landscape, while water features are rendered with equal care. Rather than dramatizing the terrain, the map lets the peninsula’s own geography speak through exacting linework and a dense network of place names.

Dennis and Yarmouth appear here as communities shaped by water on every side. To the north, the coastline along Cape Cod Bay is articulated by coves, beaches, and low-lying margins; to the south, the shore opens toward Nantucket Sound. Between them lie the ponds, creeks, and riverways that give this part of the Cape its intricate character. Mill Pond, Ice Pond, Pollock’s Pond, Grand Cove, Chase Garden Creek, Parkers River, and Bass River all appear as part of an interlaced hydrological system. These features are not merely decorative: they reveal the ecological and economic framework of the region, from marshland and fishing grounds to transport corridors and sheltered settlement sites.

The roads and trails, marked throughout in red, lend the map a compelling sense of human movement across the Cape’s sandy interior and coastal edges. Seaview Avenue, the routes through South Yarmouth and West Dennis, and the roads linking East Dennis to the northern shoreline show a region in transition from old village patterns toward the automobile-oriented Cape of the later twentieth century. The map preserves a moment when settlement was still closely tethered to ponds, rivers, and shore access, before modern development softened or obscured many of these relationships. Its combination of road detail and topographical restraint makes it especially valuable for understanding how everyday geography connected towns, waterways, and coastlines.

As a historical image of Cape Cod, “Dennis” is rich with quiet transformations. The terrain appears modest in elevation, yet the contour lines reveal the glacially formed texture of the land: low ridges, shallow valleys, pond basins, and gently sloping approaches to the sea. Since 1943, this area has seen intensified residential growth, expanded road networks, and environmental pressures on wetlands, rivers, and coastal margins. The map therefore serves as both a practical survey and a time capsule, showing Dennis and Yarmouth at a pivotal moment in their evolution. Its understated beauty lies in the precision with which it records a beloved coastal landscape before many of its later changes.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Dennis
• Yarmouth
• Cape Cod Bay
• Nantucket Sound
• Mill Pond
• Ice Pond
• Grand Cove
• Seaview Avenue
• Parkers River
• Bass River
• Pollock’s Pond
• Chase Garden Creek
• South Yarmouth
• West Dennis
• East Dennis
• The northern coastline of Cape Cod
• Various roads and trails depicted in red lines throughout the area

Historical context & cartographic details

• Map titled Dennis
• Produced by the US Geological Survey
• Dated 1943
• Historical 1:31,680 topographical map
• Shows Dennis and Yarmouth in Massachusetts and the surrounding area
• The US Geological Survey was established in 1879 and played a vital role in mapping and understanding the natural resources and hazards of the United States
• Features contour lines indicating elevation and topographical changes
• Displays terrain features such as hills, valleys, lakes, rivers, and roads
• Illustrates a region that has changed over time due to urban development and environmental change since publication

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.