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1897 Map of Paradox Lake

Name: 1897 Topographic Map of Paradox Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1909
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1909

About this map

The Adirondack wilderness of the late nineteenth century is meticulously documented here, showing a landscape where isolated industrial outposts and early tourism began to intersect. Hammondville stands as a primary hub of activity, connected by the A. and H. R. R. to Ironville in the east. This short-line rail corridor reflects the region's intense iron mining history, which fueled local economies before the transition to more modern industries.

Water dominates the terrain, from the sprawling Paradox Lake with its curious hydrology to the smaller, high-elevation waters like Pharaoh Lake and Pyramid Lake. The map captures the early settlement patterns of villages like Graphite and Severance, along with the complex network of brooks and ponds including Black Brook Ponds and the Schroon River. High peaks such as Pharaoh Mt. and Nippletop Mt. define the elevation changes that governed travel and settlement in the townships of Crown Point and Schroon.