1964 Map of O'Leary Lake

About this map

George Washington State Forest encompasses most of this landscape in Itasca County, defined by a complex network of glacial lakes and wetlands during the mid-1960s. The hydrology is dominated by the Prairie River and its tributaries, such as Day Brook and East River, which connect numerous smaller water bodies. Large basins like Buck Lake and O'Leary Lake are central features, while smaller, secluded spots like McGrady Lake and Harrison Lake dot the forested interior. The map reflects a region primarily dedicated to conservation and natural resource management, with evidence of local extractive activity shown at several sandpits and a gravel pit located near the forest trails. This survey provides a baseline of the northern Minnesota wilderness before later 20th-century shifts in land use or recreational development.