1960 Map of Lake Calumet

About this map

Lake Calumet dominates this industrial and residential landscape at the southern edge of Chicago, appearing as a focal point for massive mid-century infrastructure and heavy industry. This 1960 revision reveals the area during a period of significant transition, where the Skyway and Calumet Expressway cut through established neighborhoods like Pullman and Kensington. The map details a complex network of rail and water transport, featuring the Thomas J O'Brien Lock and Dam and multiple Calumet River turning basins that supported the region's manufacturing heart. Along the Illinois Indiana border, dense urban grids in South Chicago and East Side contrast with the wetland preserves of Eggers Woods Cook County Forest Preserve and Wolf Lake State Park. Cultural landmarks such as Mercy High Sch and St Casimir Sch serve as anchors for the local communities and immigrant parishes of the era.