1978 Map of Beacon Hill

About this map

Lake Superior dominates the northern reaches of this 1978 orthophotoquad, where the copper country shoreline meets the cold waters of the great lake. This advance print utilizes aerial photography from October 1978 to reveal the physical landscape around the small settlements of Beacon Hill and Redridge. The map provides a unique visual hybrid, overlaying traditional land lines from a 1954 topographic survey onto the actual photographic terrain. This perspective highlights the relationship between the coastal hamlets and the wooded plateau of the Keweenaw Peninsula, showing the dense forest cover and the winding road network that connects these remote Michigan communities. The distinct lack of heavy industrial infrastructure in this specific view, compared to the region's mining heyday, offers a grounded look at the area's mid-century character.