Harbour of Bridgeport, Connecticut
SurveyorSurveyed by
George S. Blake
(American, 1802 - 1871)
SurveyorSurveyed by
Thomas A. Budd
(American, died 1862)
SurveyorSurveyed by
Tunis A. M. Craven
(American, 1813 - 1864)
SurveyorSurveyed by
Oliver Tod
(American, 1811 - 1845)
SurveyorSurveyed by
Alex. Mackey
SurveyorSurveyed by
B. S. Moeller
DraftsmanDrawn by
Tunis A. M. Craven
(American, 1813 - 1864)
MakerUnder the direction of
Ferdinand Rudolph Hassler
(American, 1770 - 1843)
WriterText written by
George S. Blake
(American, 1802 - 1871)
PrinterPrinted by
P. Haas
(American, active 1837 - 1845)
PublisherPublished by
United States Coast Survey
(American, founded 1807)
Date1835
MediumLithography; black printer's ink on wove paper
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (image height x width): 27 1/2 x 22in. (69.9 x 55.9cm)
Sheet (height x width): 29 3/8 x 22 1/2in. (74.6 x 57.2cm)
ClassificationsGraphics
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number1991.194.0
DescriptionChart of the harbor in Bridgeport, Connecticut, with soundings at low tide in feet. The surrounding land is not depicted in much detail, although elevation and what appears to be swampland are both conveyed. An accompanying report shows that the chart was drafted to suggest an improvement to the harbor by dredging that would allow for greater access by commercial vessels.
Label TextNautical charts were not only aids to navigation; they could also be used to help solicit funding for much-needed improvements. In the 1830s, Bridgeport was rapidly being transformed from a small fishing village into a flourishing industrial center. Both before and after the coming of the railroad in the 1840s, Bridgeport's factories relied heavily upon ships to get their goods to market, and the sandbars at the entrance to Bridgeport harbor posed a serious obstacle to navigation. On the basis of this 1835 chart, the United States Congress appropriated $10,000 to be used for dredging operations.
NotesCartographic Note: Scale: 12 1/2 inches equals 1 mileStatus
Not on view
