1953 Map of Mason Lake

About this map

Mason Lake dominates this mid-century landscape of Washington's Puget Sound region, serving as a focal point for the surrounding timberlands and early recreational developments. To the north, Twanoh State Park meets the waters of Hood Canal at Shady Beach, while the southern reaches are defined by the intricate shoreline of Pickering Passage and the northern tip of Hartstene Island. The Northern Pacific railroad tracks wind through the forested interior, tracing a route through the rugged drainage basins of Sherwood Creek and Deer Creek. Settlement is concentrated at water landings and small lakeside communities, including Hartstene and Walkers Landing. The presence of the Mason Lake Lookout and the Little Hoquiam Gaging Sta illustrates the era's focus on resource management and fire prevention in the densely wooded territory between the canal and the Sound.