1953 Map of Devils Lake

About this map

Turtle Mountain rises above a landscape defined by glacial lakes and the expansive reach of the Great Northern and Burlington Northern railroads. This era of the North Dakota prairie shows a densely networked agricultural region where small settlements like Minnewaukan, Starkweather, and Rolla serve as vital hubs for the surrounding grain country. The map captures the complex hydrological system of the region, from the shores of Devils Lake and its multiple bays like Creel Bay and Mission Bay, to the protected wetlands of the Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge. The footprint of the Fort Totten Indian Reservation and the Turtle Mountain Indian Reservation reflects the layered history of land use and administration. Local landmarks such as the Rose Hill School and Mt Carmel Dam provide specific points of interest for those tracing the social and structural development of these rural townships.