1953 Map of Siseebakwet Lake

About this map

Mississippi River waters wind through the northern portion of this Itasca County landscape, establishing a complex hydrological network of glacial lakes and marshy basins in the early 1950s. The area is dominated by the deep basin of Siseebakwet Lake and the sprawling Rice Lake, connected by Rice Creek. This map captures a period when seasonal recreation and conservation were defining local land use, evidenced by the presence of Otis Lodge near the shoreline and a Fish Hatchery to the east. Smaller settlements are sparse, though a Community Hall and a Landing Field indicate the social and transportation hubs for the residents of Bass Brook. Further north, Jay Gould Lake and Loon Lake extend the navigable water system, while numerous named ponds like Dead Horse Lake and Figure Eight Lake dot the wooded terrain.