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1959 Map of East Tawas

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of East Tawas
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Wurtsmith Air Force Base dominates the northern reaches of the Iosco County shoreline, representing a period of significant military presence along the Lake Huron coast. This 1959 survey documents the landscape just as the base was becoming a central fixture of the region, positioned between the waters of Van Etten Lake and the Au Sable River. To the south, the twin communities of Oscoda and Au Sable sit at the river mouth, while East Tawas anchors the curve of Tawas Bay.

The interior reveals a complex network of natural and engineered features, including the Foote Dam and the nearby Foote Site Village. Local history is preserved in the location of Greenwood Cem and Lincoln Junction, along with landmarks like the Sevenmile Hill Lookout Tower and Camp Nissokone. The map traces the essential path of the Detroit and Mackinac railroad, which historically linked these coastal settlements to the timber and industrial centers of Michigan.