{"product_id":"old-map-of-grosse-pointe-michigan-by-usgs-1940-grosse-pointe-park-farms-lake-st-clair","title":"Old Map of Grosse Pointe, Michigan by USGS, 1940 – Grosse Pointe Park, Farms \u0026 Lake St. Clair","description":"\u003cp\u003eTitled “Grosse Pointe,” this 1940 United States Geological Survey map captures one of Michigan’s most distinctive lakeside communities at a pivotal moment in its early twentieth-century development. Set along the western shore of Lake St. Clair, the map presents Grosse Pointe not as a single place but as a refined constellation of adjoining municipalities, including Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Farms, and Grosse Pointe Woods. Its 1:24,000 topographic scale allows the viewer to move between regional geography and the intimate structure of streets, parcels, shorelines, and civic spaces. The result is a richly detailed portrait of a community shaped by proximity to Detroit, access to the lake, and the ordered expansion of residential neighborhoods.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProduced by the United States Geological Survey, the map reflects the precision and authority for which the USGS became renowned. Founded in the late nineteenth century, the agency transformed American cartography by applying systematic surveys to questions of landform, settlement, transportation, natural resources, and public planning. By 1940, its topographic sheets had become indispensable tools for engineers, developers, municipal officials, and military planners, as well as for anyone seeking an exacting view of the American landscape. Here, the USGS’s disciplined cartographic language lends Grosse Pointe a striking clarity: roads, railways, water, green spaces, and property divisions are all carefully distinguished, creating a map that is both practical and quietly elegant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe design is especially compelling in its treatment of the built environment. A clear grid overlay organizes the map, while emphasized red lines delineate streets, section lines, and urban divisions with uncommon legibility. Jefferson Avenue and Mack Avenue appear as key arteries, anchoring the social and geographic structure of the community and linking the Grosse Pointes to the broader metropolitan fabric of southeastern Michigan. Numbered lots and parcels evoke the deliberate subdivision of former estates, farms, and open land into residential blocks. Rail lines, major intersections, and gridded streets show a landscape already deeply planned, yet still balanced by parks, open spaces, and the gently curving presence of the lakeshore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLake St. Clair is one of the defining features of the map, giving the composition both geographic drama and historical context. The shoreline marks the eastern edge of the Grosse Pointe communities, a privileged waterfront that helped shape their identity as desirable residential enclaves. The lake was not only scenic; it connected the area to a long history of travel, trade, recreation, and settlement in the Great Lakes region. Nearby tributaries, green spaces, and the subtle topographic indications of the USGS sheet reveal the interplay between natural terrain and suburban design. The map preserves a moment when the area’s gardens, parks, water access, and orderly boulevards formed a distinctive alternative to the density of Detroit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHistorically, this map is a fascinating record of Grosse Pointe before later waves of infrastructure expansion and landscape alteration further reshaped the region. By 1940, the community had already become associated with spacious residential planning, lakeside estates, and carefully maintained streetscapes, yet the map still reveals traces of an evolving suburban edge. Its combination of street grids, rail corridors, parcels, and undeveloped or green areas makes visible the pressures of growth and modernization just before the postwar building boom. As a document of place, it offers more than geography: it captures the ambitions of a community positioning itself between metropolitan industry and lakeside refinement, between modern planning and the enduring natural appeal of Lake St. Clair.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrosse Pointe\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrosse Pointe Park\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrosse Pointe Farms\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrosse Pointe Woods\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLake St. Clair\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJefferson Avenue\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMack Avenue\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParks and green spaces\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eResidential blocks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRailways and rail lines\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMajor intersections\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShoreline\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSection lines\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLots and parcels\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNearby water bodies and tributaries\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreated in 1940 by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical 1:24,000 topographical map of Grosse Pointe, Michigan and the surrounding area.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReflects the development of Grosse Pointe in the early 20th century.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCaptures the area before later urban changes, including infrastructure expansion and alteration of natural landscapes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShows a mix of urban and natural landscapes, including residential areas and green spaces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures a clear grid overlay indicating streets and lots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses color to distinguish natural features from man-made structures.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmphasized red grid lines aid navigation and clarify street and parcel layouts.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDemonstrates the USGS tradition of detailed and accurate mapping for planning, resource management, and geographic reference.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/fr\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/fr\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/fr\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/fr\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58779697316224,"sku":null,"price":41.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58779697348992,"sku":null,"price":112.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58779697381760,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58779697414528,"sku":null,"price":41.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58779697447296,"sku":null,"price":112.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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