Old Map of Orcas Island, Washington by USGS, 1977 – Eastsound, Rosario & Deer Harbor

Titled “Eastsound,” this 1:24,000 topographical map presents Orcas Island and its surrounding waters in the San Juan Islands of Washington, published by the U.S. Geological Survey in 1978 using survey data from 1977. The sheet captures a richly indented island landscape where sheltered bays, forested uplands, winding roads, and small coastal settlements meet the intricate waterways of the Pacific Northwest. Eastsound, the island’s principal village, sits near the head of East Sound, framed by Crescent Beach, North Beach, and Buck Bay. The map offers a precise portrait of Orcas Island at a moment when its rural character, maritime geography, and emerging recreational identity were becoming increasingly central to its modern history.

The U.S. Geological Survey brought its characteristically rigorous cartographic discipline to this depiction, combining scientific measurement with a visually elegant topographic language. Contour lines articulate the island’s varied relief, while the restrained USGS color palette clearly distinguishes land, water, woodland, roads, and built environments. At this scale, the map is intimate enough to show trails, minor roads, coves, and named localities, yet broad enough to situate Eastsound within the wider island setting. The result is both practical and evocative: a map made for orientation, field use, and geographic study, but one that also conveys the layered beauty of an island shaped by geology, sea level, and human settlement.

Orcas Island’s distinctive form is especially compelling here, with East Sound cutting deeply into the land and helping define the island’s branching, horseshoe-like geography. Around the sound appear places that remain central to the island’s identity: Rosario to the southeast, Deer Harbor to the southwest, and Obstruction Pass near the channels that connect the island to the broader San Juan archipelago. Crescent Beach and North Beach mark coastal thresholds, while Buck Bay and Lakedale suggest the island’s blend of tidal, freshwater, and pastoral landscapes. The marked roads and trails trace a human network that is modest in scale, revealing how settlement followed shorelines, valleys, and accessible ridges rather than overwhelming the terrain.

The topographic character of the map is one of its great pleasures. Orcas Island rises and falls in a sequence of wooded hills, ridgelines, pockets of level ground, and protected coves, all rendered through fine contour work and subtle gradients. Turtleback Mountain stands out as a major upland presence, its slopes and surrounding terrain hinting at the island’s dramatic elevation changes and long-standing appeal to hikers, naturalists, and conservationists. The many unnamed peaks and forested areas give the map a sense of depth and mystery, suggesting terrain known locally through paths, viewpoints, and seasonal changes rather than through urban grids. Water, forest, and elevation are in constant conversation.

Historically, “Eastsound” records Orcas Island during a period of transition, when the San Juan Islands were increasingly valued not only as working landscapes and maritime communities, but also as places of recreation, ecological preservation, and residential retreat. Since the late 1970s, land use, conservation priorities, and development patterns have continued to evolve, making this map a revealing benchmark of the island’s recent past. Camp Orkila, coastal roads, village clusters, and open uplands all speak to the balance between habitation and wilderness that defines Orcas. As a geographic document, it preserves the island’s contours and place names; as a historical artifact, it captures a Pacific Northwest landscape on the threshold between rural seclusion and modern environmental consciousness.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Eastsound
• Orcas Island
• Rosario
• Deer Harbor
• Obstruction Pass
• Crescent Beach
• North Beach
• East Sound
• Buck Bay
• Lakedale
• Turtleback Mountain
• Camp Orkila
• San Juan Islands
• Nearby water bodies, including inlets and bays
• Trails and roads marked for navigation
• Various unnamed peaks and forested areas

Historical context & cartographic details

• Historical 1:24,000 topographical map depicting Orcas Island, Washington, and its surrounding area.
• Created using survey data from 1977 and published in 1978.
• Published by the U.S. Geological Survey, known for detailed topographical and geographic mapping throughout the United States.
• Features Orcas Island, an area known for scenic landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and recreational activity.
• Uses topographical lines and color gradients to represent elevations and landforms.
• Employs a typical USGS color scheme that clearly distinguishes land and water bodies.
• Shows varied terrain, including hills, valleys, coastal features, forested areas, and developed land.
• Reflects a historical moment before later changes in land use, development, and environmental conservation on Orcas Island.
• Includes a clear legend indicating key features for navigation and geographic understanding.

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.