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1949 Map of Deer Lake

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Deer Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

The northern reaches of the Keweenaw Peninsula meet the shoreline of Lake Superior in this 1949 survey. Dominated by the townships of Grant and Sherman, the landscape is defined by its dramatic hydrography, from the expansive Lake Gratiot in the west to the inland Deer Lake and the northern tip of Lac La Belle. These water bodies are connected by a network of waterways including the Little Gratiot River, which flows through the northern timberlands, and the Big Betsy River which empties into Betsy Bay.

Cultural landmarks are sparse in this heavily forested terrain, highlighting the importance of the Betsy River Sch near the coast. A significant historical detail is the road marked as under construction hugging the shoreline toward Black Rock Point, signaling the post-war expansion of access into this part of Michigan. The map captures a moment when the wilderness of the Copper Country was being increasingly connected by new infrastructure.