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1912 Map of Moses Lake

Name: 1912 Topographic Map of Moses Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1912
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1912

About this map

Moses Lake serves as the central focal point of this arid landscape, its distinct fingers reaching into the surrounding basalt-carved terrain. The map captures the early rural development of Grant County, with the isolated community of Mae and the nascent town of Moses Lake appearing as small clusters of activity. Education in this frontier setting is marked by several remote schoolhouses, including West Shore School, Hiawatha School, and Camas Mounds School, each positioned to serve the scattered farming families of Pleasant Valley.

South of the main water body, the complex topography of The Potholes is meticulously documented, showing a maze of small depressions and seasonal ponds before modern irrigation transformed the region. The northern reach is defined by the flow of Rocky Ford Creek, while the Northern Pacific RR cuts across the northeastern corner, providing a vital link to larger markets. Notable shoreline features such as Lewis Horn, Parker Horn, and Pelican Horn show the lake's natural shoreline before it was heavily regulated for agriculture.