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1956 Map of Bar Lake

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Bar Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1982
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1982

About this map

Lake Michigan dominates the western half of this survey, defining a coastline of narrow beaches and shifting dunes where the Manistee National Forest meets the water. The landscape is shaped by the complex hydrology of the shoreline, featuring Portage Lake and Bar Lake, which are separated from the main lake by thin peninsulas like Portage Point. To the south, the city of Manistee serves as the industrial and population hub, situated at the junction of Manistee Lake and the lakefront.

Transportation and mid-century infrastructure are clearly marked, with the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad corridor and the Manistee-Blacker Airport supporting the region's growth. Local landmarks such as the Drive-in Theater and Orchard Beach State Park illustrate the area's recreational character during the 1950s. Genealogists and local historians can locate smaller features like Newland Sch and the Oak Grove Cem, providing a window into the rural community structure outside the main city center.