1951 Map of Grahams Island

About this map

Grahams Island dominates this mid-century topographic view of the Devils Lake basin, an area shaped by fluctuating water levels and a legacy of frontier defense. The landscape is defined by the extensive reaches of Sixmile Bay, Pelican Bay, and Grand Harbor, which surround the central landmass. A notable historical marker on the island is the Old Military Reservation Boundary, providing a geographic anchor for local historians and researchers studying the region's early administration. Rural development is evidenced by the placement of School No 1 and School No 2, serving the scattered homesteads across the island and the mainland along the Benson and Ramsey County line. The map captures a moment before modern hydrologic changes, reflecting the natural shoreline and the early road network as they existed in the early 1950s.