1956 Map of Houghton Lake

About this map

The Muskegon River flows through the heart of this mid-1950s landscape, weaving between the sprawling Dead Stream Swamp and the western shores of Houghton Lake. The area demonstrates a transition from early timber-era settlements to a mid-century recreational economy. Clustered along the southern and western lakefronts are the developing hubs of Houghton Lake Heights and Houghton Lake, while the interior remains dominated by the Houghton Lake State Forest and massive wetlands like Haymarsh Swamp.