1959 Map of Tom Lake

About this map

Grand Portage State Forest and the Superior National Forest converge in this 1959 survey of northeastern Cook County, showing a landscape defined by its complex hydrology and timber heritage. The sheet is anchored by Tom Lake at its center, with the Brule River and Flute Reed River winding through the southern terrain within Judge C. R. Magney State Park. The high point of the quadrangle is marked by the Devilfish Lookout Tower, overlooking a network of smaller water bodies including Esther Lake, Chester Lake, and Moosehorn Lake. This mapping captures the region before extensive modern development, detailing the remote portages and creeks like Portage Brook and Beaverdam Creek that historically facilitated movement through these North Shore uplands. Several gravel pits suggest localized industrial activity amidst the state and national protected lands.