1953 Map of Twig

About this map

The Cloquet State Forest dominates this mid-century landscape of northern Minnesota, where the Cloquet River and the winding Us-Kab-Wan-Ka River meet. The massive expanse of the Fish Lake Reservoir defines the eastern half of the map, its shoreline complex with numerous inlets and islands. This area serves as a critical junction for the Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific railroad, which cuts north through the settlements of Twig and Taft. Local history is anchored by these small rail-side communities and the varied glacial lakes that dot the terrain, including Caribou Lake and Bergen Lake. The infrastructure of the 1950s, later photorevised in the 1970s, shows a region defined by its timber resources and the management of its water for power or conservation.