1959 Map of Tawas City

About this map

The Au Sable River cuts a deep industrial and recreational path through the heart of the Huron National Forest, dominated by a sequence of hydroelectric reservoirs including Loud Basin, Five Channels Basin, Cooke Basin, and Foote Basin. These impoundments, managed by structures like Loud Dam and Cooke Dam, illustrate the mid-century harness of Michigan's river systems for power. Along the southern banks, the Lumbermens Memorial Monument stands as a reminder of the region's logging heritage. In the southeast, the twin settlements of Tawas City and East Tawas anchor the Tawas Bay shoreline, served by the Detroit and Mackinac railroad. Inland, a network of smaller lakes such as Indian Lake and Sand Lake provides a glimpse into the seasonal resort and residential patterns of Iosco County at the end of the 1950s.