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1954 Map of Perch Lake

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Perch Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Ottawa National Forest and the Iron Range State Forest dominate this mid-century landscape where the borders of Houghton, Baraga, and Iron counties meet. The region is defined by a dense network of glacial lakes and wetlands, centered around the expansive Perch Lake. Significant elevations are monitored from the Sidnaw Lookout Tower in the north and the Perch Lake Lookout Tower further south, emphasizing the importance of fire surveillance in these timber-rich lands.

Industrial activity and transit are focused along the Chicago Milwaukee and Pacific rail line, which services small outposts like Tunis and Park Siding. While much of the area remains undeveloped wilderness, isolated settlements like Preston and infrastructure such as a Gravel Pit indicate localized extraction and maintenance. The map documents a time when the Upper Peninsula's interior relied heavily on these rail corridors and forest management hubs for its economic connectivity.