1959 Map of Pelican Lake

About this map

Crow Wing State Forest encompasses much of this 1959 landscape, dominated by the expansive waters of Pelican Lake and Lake Edward. The map documents a transition from lakefront recreation and timber to established community infrastructure, marked by the Pelican Lakes Village Boundary and the presence of the Town Hall and Ossipee Sch. Notable for genealogists and local historians are the numerous smaller water bodies, including Lougee Lake, Markee Lake, and Bonnie Lake, which define the fragmented shoreline and development patterns of the era. The small settlement of Guida sits near the southern edge, while depth curves and soundings provided by the Minnesota Department of Conservation reveal the underwater topography of the major basins. From the Gravel Pit in the northwest to the Pelican Brook outlet, this survey provides a clear view of the mid-century northern woods environment before modern expansion altered the lakefront character.