1929 Map of Calumet Lake

About this map

Calumet Lake and its industrial surroundings define this late-1920s landscape on the Illinois-Indiana border. The map reveals the intricate urban and industrial fabric of Pullman, Kensington, and Hegewisch, where the Pullman R R and Illinois Central railroads intersect with the Calumet River system. The proximity of the Pullman Training School and the Brickyard near the Little Calumet River highlights the era's focus on specialized education and local manufacturing. To the east, the undeveloped areas around Wolf Lake and Lake George stand in contrast to the dense residential and commercial blocks of South Chicago and East Side. The heavy concentration of rail lines, including the Indiana Harbor Belt and the Belt Ry of Chicago, underscores the region's role as a primary transportation hub for the Midwest, connecting the factories of Hammond and Dolton to the wider shipping lanes of Lake Michigan.