1949 Map of Manitou Island

About this map

Manitou Island stands isolated in the waters of Lake Superior, serving as a critical navigational waypoint at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula. This 1949 survey documents the remote maritime infrastructure required for Great Lakes shipping, anchored by the Manitou Island L H and the solitary Gull Rock Lighthouse positioned between the island and the mainland at Keweenaw Point. The terrain of Grant township on the mainland is defined by a series of coastal indentations and inland waters, including Schlatter Lake and Gill Lake. A single Telephone Line provides a tenuous connection across this sparsely inhabited landscape, stretching toward the island's southern shore. The map illustrates a transitional period where traditional visual lighthouses were augmented by radio beacons, ensuring safe passage around these treacherous northern reaches.