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1939 Map of Ely

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Ely
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

The iron mining town of Ely serves as the focal point of this pre-war survey, situated at a critical junction of industry and wilderness within the Superior National Forest. Heavy industry dominates the landscape near the townsite, marked by the operations of the Pioneer Mines, Zenith Mine, and the Section Thirty Mine. These extractive sites are connected to the broader region by the Duluth Missabe and Northern railroad, which snakes through the lake-heavy terrain.

Beyond the industrial center, the map reveals a burgeoning recreational and conservation landscape. Numerous camps and lodges, such as Burnside Lodge, Camp Van Vac, and White Iron Camp, dot the shorelines of Burntside Lake and Shagawa Lake. The presence of the Fenske Lake CCC Camp and Halfway CCC Camp reflects New Deal-era conservation efforts, while localized infrastructure like the Ely Landing Field and rural schools like Savoy Sch provide a detailed look at the social fabric of St. Louis County during the late 1930s.