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1901 Map of Old Forge

Name: 1901 Topographic Map of Old Forge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1924
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1924

About this map

Old Forge serves as the gateway to the Fulton Chain Park lakes during this era of burgeoning Adirondack tourism and wilderness industry. The landscape is defined by the early transit network of the Mohawk and Malone RR and the Adirondack Division, which facilitated the growth of remote outpost settlements like Atwell and seasonal retreats. A distinctive Steamboat Route is marked across First Lake, Second Lake, Third Lake, and Fourth Lake, highlighting the era's reliance on waterborne travel to reach isolated destinations such as Mountain Lodge and Bishy Lodge.

The rugged interior is dotted with established woodsmen's sites like Finch Camp and Beecher Camp, alongside landmarks reflecting the area's wild character such as Deadmans Gulch and Stink Lake Mountain. High elevations like Bald Mountain and Woodhull Mt. loom over a dense system of waterways, including the Middle Branch Moose River and the South Branch Moose River, where early hydraulic management is evidenced by the Rock Dam Stillwater.