1950 Map of Turtle Lake

About this map

The Spokane Indian Reservation and the rising waters of the Franklin D Roosevelt Lake National Recreational Area define this mid-century portrait of Stevens County. Established shortly after the completion of the Grand Coulee Dam, the map shows the flooded canyon of the Spokane River and its impact on the surrounding landscape. On the higher ground of the Spokane Indian Reservation, mining remains a critical industry, evidenced by the Germania Mine, Germania Consolidated Mine, and the Spokane Molybdenum Mine. Local social and spiritual centers are well-documented, including the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, St Augustine Sch, and rural hubs like the North Star Grange. This survey captures the transition from a traditional river-valley economy to one shaped by the massive Columbia River Basin Project and its new recreational infrastructure.