1960 Map of The Cascades

About this map

Pigeon River forms the winding international boundary between Minnesota and Ontario, carving through a landscape defined by significant historic portage routes. This borderland area preserves the Site of Fort Charlotte, the western terminus of the historic nine-mile Grand Portage trail. As part of the Grand Portage National Monument, this location was once a critical transfer point for fur traders bypassing the river's treacherous falls. The map shows the convergence of the Arrow River and the Whitefish River as they join the Pigeon River system. Further upstream, The Cascades mark a sharp drop in elevation, highlighting the topographical challenges that necessitated the extensive overland portages used by North West Company traders and indigenous peoples for generations.