1955 Map of Isabella

About this map

Isabella and its surrounding timberlands are documented here during the mid-1950s, a period defined by the logging and rail infrastructure of the Superior National Forest. The landscape is a complex web of water and transport, where the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range railroad and various railroad grades connect remote outposts. Evidence of earlier settlement patterns is visible at the Isabella Sch (Abandoned), while active operations continue at Isabella (Station) and several namesake water-access points like Sawbill Landing and Martin Landing. Smaller settlements such as Murphy City and Manitou Junction anchor the southeastern portion of the map, while the Stony Lookout Tower provides a high-point reference for forest management. The density of lakes, from Upper Sand Lake to Lake Gegoka, illustrates the water-heavy terrain that dictated the placement of schools and seasonal camps in this corner of Lake County.