Published with the title “Bath,” this United States Geological Survey topographical map presents the Bath, Maine quadrangle as surveyed in 1980 and issued with a 1990 imprint. At a precise 1:24,000 scale, it captures the city and its surrounding coastal-river landscape with the clarity and discipline characteristic of USGS cartography. Bath appears not merely as a place-name, but as a working historic town set along the Kennebec River, shaped by water, roads, wooded uplands, and shifting settlement patterns. The map’s color coding distinguishes land, water, built areas, and transport routes, while its contour lines give the terrain a sculptural quality, revealing the subtle elevations and valleys that define this part of midcoast Maine.

Bath’s identity is inseparable from the Kennebec River, and the map makes that relationship immediately apparent. The city occupies a strategic position along the river’s western bank, with West Bath, Woolwich, and Phippsburg extending the geographic story outward into peninsulas, coves, and wooded rural ground. Route 1, one of the defining roads of coastal Maine, threads through the mapped area, linking local communities while suggesting the broader corridor between Portland, Brunswick, and the maritime northeast. The careful rendering of streets, bridges, shorelines, and river margins evokes a landscape where transportation, settlement, and industry have long followed the contours of navigable water and dry land.

To the north and west, the Androscoggin River and Merrymeeting Bay introduce one of Maine’s most distinctive natural settings. Merrymeeting Bay, with its islands, marshy edges, and complex meeting of freshwater systems, is shown as a broad watery convergence where major rivers gather before flowing seaward through the Kennebec. The map’s blue hydrography gives particular prominence to this tidal-freshwater environment, while surrounding contour lines and forest symbols reveal a landscape of low hills, wetlands, coves, and wooded tracts. Such detail makes the sheet especially compelling for understanding the ecological richness of the region, where riverine habitats, birdlife, and traditional human use overlap in a remarkably intricate geography.

The southern and coastal portions of the map bring Phippsburg, Dammers Cove, Sebasco Estates, ponds, inlets, and scattered shoreline communities into view. Here the topography becomes more fragmented and maritime in character, with narrow roads, forested areas, and water bodies creating a pattern typical of Maine’s indented coast. Elevation is not dramatic, but the closely observed contouring reveals the rises and hollows that shape local settlement, drainage, and views toward the river and bay. Parks, natural reserves, and undeveloped woodlands add another layer of interest, showing a region poised between residential life, conservation, recreation, and the enduring influence of its rugged coastal environment.

Created by the United States Geological Survey, the map belongs to one of the great national cartographic projects: the systematic mapping of America’s landscapes for science, planning, navigation, and public understanding. By 1980, Bath and its surrounding towns had already passed through centuries of shipbuilding, river commerce, agriculture, and coastal development; the 1990 imprint preserves that late twentieth-century moment before subsequent changes in land use, infrastructure, and environmental management further altered the region. Its disciplined topographic language—contours, symbols, roads, shorelines, and place-names—turns the Bath area into a richly legible historical document, offering both geographic precision and a vivid portrait of Maine’s river-coast character.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Bath, Maine
• Kennebec River
• Androscoggin River
• Merrymeeting Bay
• West Bath
• Phippsburg
• Woolwich
• Dammers Cove
• Sebasco Estates
• Route 1 and other roads
• Parks and natural reserves
• Forested areas
• Islands within Merrymeeting Bay
• Lakes and ponds

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
• Historical 1:24,000 topographical map of Bath, Maine and surrounding areas.
• Dated 1980 with a 1990 imprint.
• Uses color coding, contour lines, and shading to show topography and elevation changes.
• Different colors distinguish land, water, and other map features for easier identification.
• Shows detailed elevation and landform information, including hills, valleys, rivers, and bodies of water.
• Reflects Bath and the surrounding region at a late 20th-century moment, before later land use and development changes.

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.

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.