1955 Map of Bessemer

About this map

Mining operations and industrial infrastructure dominate the northern half of this Gogebic County landscape, centered on the city of BesseMER and the surrounding settlements of Anvil, Ramsay, and Yale. The era's iron ore extraction is clearly marked by extensive mine dumps and significant sites like the Old Tilden Mine, Anvil Mine, and Geneva Mine. Two major railroads, the Chicago and North Western and the Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie, provide the transit backbone for the region's heavy industry. South of the city, the terrain transitions into the protected woods of the Ottawa National Forest. This section reveals a complex network of waterways, including Powder Mill Creek and the Black River, which flow through the forested interior toward McDonald Lake. The map also captures local civic life through the placement of Washington Sch, Hillcrest Cemetery, and Grandview Hospital.