1963 Map of Oak Island

About this map

Lake Superior surrounds the northern reaches of the Apostle Islands in this mid-century topographic record, which depicts a landscape managed as the Apostle Islands State Forest. The map detail captures the isolated character of these landmasses, from the larger Oak Island and Stockton Island to the smaller Hermit Island and Otter Island. An industrial past is signaled by a quarry located on Hermit Island and another at Quarry Point, reflecting early extractive activities that preceded the area's transition toward conservation. Navigational hazards such as the Oak Island Shoal are charted alongside shoreline features like the Clay Banks and Bear Island, while the boundary between Ashland and Bayfield counties cuts through the open waters of the archipelago.