1963 Map of Outer Island

About this map

Outer Island, the northernmost point of the Apostle Islands chain, is documented here in its mid-century state. The landscape is dominated by the heavily wooded interior of the island, which is bisected by the Fourth Principal Meridian. At the northern tip, the Outer Island Light serves as a critical maritime landmark for vessels navigating the open waters of Lake Superior. The surrounding waters reveal complex underwater topography, including the shallow Outer Island Shoal and the sheltered Austad Bay on the eastern shore. Towards the south, the island narrows to the distinctive Sand Point. This 1963 field examination provides a clear look at the island's natural isolation and its role as a sentinel within the archipelago before the establishment of the national lakeshore.