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1929 Map of Calumet Lake

Name: 1929 Topographic Map of Calumet Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

Industrial and residential development defines this landscape during the late 1920s and 1930s as the Chicago city boundary meets the Illinois Indiana state line. The sprawling waters of Calumet Lake and Wolf Lake dominate the geography, flanked by a complex grid of streets and rail yards. The company town of Pullman stands prominently on the western shore of the lake, near the Pullman Training School, while neighborhoods like South Deering, Hegewisch, and Robertsdale occupy the low-lying land between the heavy rail corridors.

The Calumet River and its branches, the Little Calumet River and Grand Calumet River, serve as the hydraulic spine for the region's industry, connecting the inland lakes to Calumet Harbor on Lake Michigan. Transport is heavily reliant on a dense network of major lines including the Illinois Central R R and the Pennsylvania R R, which navigate around a massive Turning Basin and local landmarks like Stony Island.