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Pictou Island shoreline

PIHS · Historical Atlas

Pictou Island Through Time

Explore the original 1879 atlas and 1953 topographic maps, then follow their names and features into the Island’s histories.

Browse all 19 landmarks ↓

1834 · William MacKay’s Great Map

The original island-outline panel is available through Nova Scotia Archives. It is not the missing 1830 division plan.

View the original archival reference ↗
1834 archival reference

Read the maps with care

These maps were made for different purposes. A printed line is not proof of a current property boundary, a public route or historical land cover. No present-day satellite forest is shown beneath the historical maps.

Factory Road is the current name. North Shore Road is documented on the MacCallum map; New Factory Road is attributed to Ron MacDonald’s recollection. Their sequence is unresolved. Campbell Lane’s exact historic alignment and access status remain uncertain. Josh & Julia Way is modern and private. The Lobster Island is an exhibit title, not a recovered place-name.

Explore the 19 landmarks

These links open the established PIHS place histories, with their People and source relationships. They span different periods; inclusion here does not mean a feature existed on every map. Legacy illustration positions have not been transferred to archival maps.

19 of 19 landmarks

  1. West End Lighthouse

    Existing PIHS place history; no new surveyed position asserted.

  2. Southside Lighthouse

    Existing PIHS place history; no new surveyed position asserted.

  3. Pioneer Cemetery

    Existing PIHS place history; no new surveyed position asserted.

  4. School / Community Centre

    Existing PIHS place history; no new surveyed position asserted.

  5. The Hall

    Existing PIHS place history; no new surveyed position asserted.

  6. East End Lighthouse

    Existing PIHS place history; no new surveyed position asserted.

  7. Pictou Island Wharf

    Existing PIHS place history; no new surveyed position asserted.

  8. Sutherland Memorial Church

    Existing PIHS place history; no new surveyed position asserted.

  9. Church Cemetery

    Existing PIHS place history; no new surveyed position asserted.

  10. John MacCallum Park

    Existing PIHS place history; no new surveyed position asserted.

  11. John Dans Cove

    Current feature; Lobster Factory Cove is the historical name associated here through Ron MacDonald’s local identification.

  12. New Factory Cove

    Historical/local cove identity; keep separate from John Dans Cove and individual factory sites.

  13. Roger Point

    Current feature; precise position of the original 1921 cable landing remains unconfirmed.

  14. East End Fish Shanties

    Existing PIHS place history; no new surveyed position asserted.

  15. West End Cannery

    Historical locality; exact operator footprints remain unresolved.

  16. East End Cannery

    Approximate historic shore area; distinct from the surviving fish shanties.

  17. Asadalia Reef

    Approximate locality from local fishermen’s knowledge; no surveyed boundary.

  18. East End Reef

    Possible historical Seal Rock correspondence; primary confirmation remains open.

  19. East End Breakwater

    Existing PIHS place history; no new surveyed position asserted.