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1959 Map of Tom Lake

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Tom Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Superior National Forest and Grand Portage State Forest converge in this 1959 survey of northeastern Minnesota's wild northern timberlands. The landscape is dominated by a dense network of glacially formed water bodies, including Devilfish Lake, Esther Lake, and the expansive Tom Lake. The presence of the Devilfish Lookout Tower on a high ridge overlooking the basin highlights the importance of fire surveillance in these heavily wooded sections during the mid-century era.

Hydrological patterns are clearly defined, showing the drainage of Moosehorn Lake and Lost Lake through a series of creeks and swamps toward the Brule River and Flute Reed River. This map captures the area as it was managed by the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Commission, providing a precise look at the unimproved roads and gravel pits that supported the local forestry infrastructure before modern developments.