1957 Map of Spirit Lake

About this map

Spirit Lake and its surrounding peaks define this mid-century landscape within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. This era shows the lake before modern transformations, bordered by established recreation sites like St Helens Lodge, Harmony Falls Lodge, and a Boy Scout Camp. To the north, the Cowlitz Chehalis & Cascade Railroad and a Private Logging Road follow the Cowlitz River, indicating the industrial logging activity that operated alongside the region's mining interests. Numerous prospect sites including the Sweden Mine, Polar Star Mine, and Chicago Mine are tucked into the drainages of Goat Mountain and Mt Margaret. The map records a complex network of fire lookouts and ranger stations, including the Strawberry Lookout and the Spirit Lake Ranger Station, which managed this vast timber and mineral resource.