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1956 Map of Three Lakes

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Three Lakes
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Baraga State Forest dominates this mid-century landscape in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, defined by a dense network of glacial lakes and the industrial footprint of iron mining. The Duluth South Shore and Atlantic railroad cuts through the center of the sheet, providing a vital link for the small settlements of Three Lakes and Imperial Heights. These communities were shaped by their proximity to mineral resources and timber, with the Ohio Mine and several other mine dumps and shafts clustered near the western edge of Lake Michigamme.

Elevated observation points like the Coon Three Lakes Lookout Tower overlook a rugged drainage system where the Spruce River and Petticoat Creek flow through timberlands. The survey captures a moment when the transition from active mining to recreational and forestry use was well underway, evidenced by the numerous named bodies of water such as Beaufort Lake, Craig Lake, and Lake Keewaydin that remain central to the region's character.