1931 Map of Steuben NW

About this map

Steuben sits at the heart of this survey, established as a junction point where the Manistique and Lake Superior railroad crosses the winding path of the Indian River. The landscape is dominated by a dense concentration of kettle lakes and drainages, characteristic of the Upper Peninsula's glacial topography in the early 1930s. The presence of the Steuben Fire Tower and secluded outposts like Jack Pine Lodge and the Woods Club suggests an era focused on timber management and early wilderness recreation. Tracing the rail line reveals the connectivity of this lumbering district, which borders the boundary between Schoolcraft and Delta counties. Dozens of named water bodies, from the expansive Big Boss Lake to the smaller Bluegill Lake and Mud Lake, illustrate the complex hydrology of the Hiawatha region before modern development patterns fully emerged.