1956 Map of Bar Lake

About this map

Lake Michigan dominates the western half of this mid-century survey, defining a coastline shaped by complex inland waterways. The settlement of Manistee serves as a hub where the industrial and natural landscapes converge, featuring a network of bayous including Peters Bayou and Tatches Bayou that lead into Manistee Lake. Transportation infrastructure is well-established, with the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad corridor running parallel to the shore and the Manistee-Blacker Airport situated to the east. For the local historian, the map preserves the locations of rural landmarks like the Newland Sch and Oak Grove Cem. The northern shoreline is marked by Portage Point at the mouth of Portage Lake, while the protected acreage of the Manistee National Forest and Orchard Beach State Park illustrates the region's balance of development and conservation during the 1950s.