1963 Map of Cat Island

About this map

Cat Island and its neighboring landforms emerge from the cold depths of Lake Superior in this mid-century topographic record. Located within the Apostle Islands archipelago, the map focuses on the uninhabited natural state of the islands as they were surveyed in 1963. The geography of La Pointe Twp is defined here by the distinct profiles of North Twin Island and the northern portion of Ironwood Island. While largely devoid of man-made structures or cultural features, the sheet provides precise bathymetric soundings and shoreline elevations that capture the coastal morphology of the era. The isolation of these northern reaches is underscored by the lack of any significant drainage or culture changes noted during the 1975 photoinspection, preserving a clear look at these landmasses before modern environmental shifts or recreational developments altered the landscape.