1956 Map of Chad Lake

About this map

The Superior National Forest dominates this mid-century landscape of northern St. Louis County, where a complex network of glacial lakes and waterways defines the wilderness. At the northern edge of the Iron Range, this survey documents a period when the Minnesota State Forest and various administrative boundaries, such as the Burntside State Forest Boundary, managed the expansive timberlands. The hydrography is notably dense, featuring the long reach of Buck Lake and the northern bays of Vermilion Lake, including Rice Bay and Bass Bay. Landmarks like Indian Point and the large Sioux Pine Island stand as significant navigational points for those traveling these waters. The map records the primitive road classifications of the era, showing a landscape largely untouched by heavy development, primarily accessed via unpaved routes and water trails through the dense forest canopy.