1982 Map of Firesteel

About this map

Firesteel and the surrounding woodlands of the Ottawa National Forest dominate this Upper Peninsula landscape during the early 1980s. The region is defined by an intricate network of waterways, including the winding Flintsteel River and the Rockland River, which carve through the townships of Ontonagon and Greenland. This survey illustrates a landscape of resource extraction and isolated settlement, where logging and transit are evidenced by features like Camp 4 and a series of rural routes such as Firesteel Road and Calumet Road. The presence of a Gravel Pit and a prominent Radio Tower near the center of the sheet highlights the mid-century industrial and communication infrastructure supporting these remote communities. Small tributaries like Monehan Creek and McGuire Creek feed into the larger river systems, illustrating the natural drainage patterns that have historically dictated the placement of roads and homesteads in this part of Michigan.