1899 Map of Crystal Falls

About this map

Iron mining and timber transport dominate this landscape in the upper peninsula, where the Crystal Falls townsite serves as a focal point for the regional rail network. The map reveals an industrial landscape defined by numerous spurs, including the Shafer Mine Branch and the R.R. Dunn Mine Branch, which connect the Shafer Mine and Mastodon Mine to the primary lines. This intricate web of the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul R.R. and the Chicago and Northwestern R.R. illustrates the logistical efforts required to extract resources from the Hematite and Mastodon districts during the late nineteenth century.