1959 Map of Lower Whitefish Lake

About this map

Lower Whitefish Lake and Upper Whitefish Lake anchor a landscape defined by an intricate network of water and woods in the late 1950s. This survey, compiled from 1957 aerial photography, reveals a region transitioning between wilderness and recreation, with Crow Wing State Forest and Timothy preserving large tracts of timber. Small lakeside communities such as Manhattan Beach and Swanburg dot the northern shorelines, while the southern reaches center on Cross Lake Village. The map documents numerous smaller water bodies with evocative local names, including Pecks Puddle, Hooligans Hole, and Dewdrop Lake. Local genealogy and community history are grounded in specific sites like the Swanburg Cem and Our Lady of the Snows Chapel, which stands overlooking the southern edge of the Big Trout Lake channel. Further south, the map details the area around Pelican Lakes Village and the intersection at Ideal Corners.