1953 Map of Calumet Lake

About this map

Calumet Lake and its industrial surroundings dominate this mid-century landscape on the Chicago South Side. The map reveals a dense network of heavy industry and shipping infrastructure, including Turning Basin No. 5 and the expansive Dumping Grounds north of the lake. Long-established neighborhoods like Pullman and Kensington appear alongside more recent developments like the Altgeld Gardens housing project. The area's reliance on rail transport is evident in the numerous lines of the New York Central System and the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific RR that crisscross the wetlands. To the east, the state line divides the industrial heart of South Chicago from the residential and recreation areas around Wolf Lake and Robertsdale in Indiana. Notable community landmarks such as Chicago Vocational Sch and Eckersall Stadium reflect the civic growth of these South Side communities during this period of high industrial productivity.