1959 Map of Tawas City

About this map

The Au Sable River corridor defines this landscape, where a series of impoundments including Loud Pond, Five Channels Pond, and Cooke Pond support a legacy of early 20th-century hydroelectric power. In the north, the Wurtsmith Air Force Range and Alpeña State Forest occupy the highlands above the river, while the Lumbermens Memorial Monument stands as a tribute to the region's logging heritage. To the south, the coastal settlements of Tawas City and East Tawas are situated along the shores of Tawas Bay, connected by the Detroit and Mackinac RR. The interior townships of Wilber and Plainfield reveal a rural pattern of development, punctuated by local landmarks like Wilber Ch and the Silver Creek Lookout Tower. This survey captures the transition from the industrial forestry era to a landscape managed for conservation and public utility.