{"product_id":"old-map-of-houghton-michigan-by-usgs-1915-hancock-calumet-lake-superior","title":"Old Map of Houghton, Michigan by USGS, 1915 – Hancock, Calumet \u0026 Lake Superior","description":"\u003cp\u003eTitled “Houghton, Michigan,” this evocative US Geological Survey quadrangle was published in 1917 from survey data gathered in 1915, preserving the Keweenaw Peninsula at a moment when copper, canals, and Great Lakes commerce shaped daily life. Drawn at the classic 1:62,500 scale, it presents Houghton and Hancock on either side of the Portage waterway, with Calumet, Chassell, Painesdale, and other settlements arranged amid a landscape of ridges, lakes, creeks, and mining roads. The map’s dense contouring and careful hydrography reveal both the practical precision of federal surveying and the aesthetic clarity for which early twentieth-century USGS topographic sheets are admired. It is a portrait of a working northern landscape, surveyed with scientific rigor and filled with historical resonance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe US Geological Survey, founded in 1879, became one of the defining institutions in the systematic mapping of the United States, and this Houghton sheet reflects its mature early twentieth-century style. Contour lines describe the rise and fall of Quincy Hill, the uplands around Franklin and Adams Townships, and the broken terrain leading toward Lake Superior. Waterways are given equal importance: Portage Lake and the Portage Canal form the geographic spine of the map, linking inland industry to the vast maritime world of Superior. The restrained design—precise lettering, measured relief, and uncluttered symbolism—allows the land itself to dominate. This is cartography as both technical record and visual history, translating elevation, settlement, and infrastructure into an elegant, readable whole.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHoughton and Hancock appear here not merely as towns, but as the civic and commercial heart of Michigan’s copper country. Nearby, the Quincy Mine and Quincy Hill recall one of the region’s great industrial landmarks, part of the mineral wealth that drew workers, investors, railways, and shipping traffic to the Keweenaw. Calumet and Lake Mine point to the broader mining network that made this remote peninsula internationally significant in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The map captures the geography underlying that boom: steep hillsides, narrow water crossings, clustered settlements, and transport corridors shaped by ore extraction. In its quiet symbols and contours, it records an industrial landscape at a pivotal stage, before later consolidation, decline, and environmental change altered the region’s character.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surrounding natural features give the sheet a grandeur beyond its industrial story. Lake Superior frames the region with immense presence, while Torch Lake, Shriner Lake, Mission Creek, the Gratiot River, and the Montreal River show the complex drainage patterns of the peninsula. Toward Keweenaw Point and Bete Grise, the map hints at the dramatic meeting of forested highlands, wetlands, and cold inland sea. Superior Falls and the river valleys suggest the erosive force of water in this rugged northern terrain. The topographic treatment is especially compelling: hills and valleys are not generalized, but patiently measured, revealing the undulating ground that dictated routes, settlement sites, and mining development. It is a landscape of water, rock, and elevation, rendered with disciplined beauty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a historical document, the Houghton quadrangle offers a richly layered snapshot of the region before a century of urban expansion, changing transportation systems, mine closures, and ecological transformation. Comparing its 1915 survey detail with the modern landscape reveals how roads, shorelines, industrial sites, and communities have evolved, while also showing the enduring power of geography in shaping human activity. Townships such as Allouez, Franklin, and Adams are placed within a broader matrix of ridges, lakes, creeks, and mineral lands, reminding us that administrative boundaries and settlement patterns followed the contours of opportunity. For collectors drawn to Great Lakes history, American industrial heritage, or the refined visual language of USGS topography, this map is a deeply atmospheric record of Michigan’s copper country.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHoughton\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHancock\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCalumet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLake Superior\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePortage Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePortage Canal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKeweenaw Point\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQuincy Mine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuperior Falls\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTorch Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAdams Township\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFranklin Township\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAllouez Township\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChassell\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGratiot River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMission Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePainesdale\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLake Mine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMontreal River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShriner Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBete Grise\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQuincy Hill\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRepresents data from 1915 and was published in 1917.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical topographical map at a scale of 1:62,500.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublished by the US Geological Survey, noted for its important role in mapping and surveying the United States.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures traditional topographic representation with contour lines and shading to indicate elevation changes.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIllustrates varied terrain, including hills, valleys, waterways, and surrounding topography.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReflects the geographical understanding and documentation of Houghton, Michigan, during the early 20th century.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUseful for comparing later changes in urban development, industrialization, and environmental conditions.\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=\"\/it\/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=\"\/it\/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=\"\/it\/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=\"\/it\/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":58779690434944,"sku":null,"price":41.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58779690467712,"sku":null,"price":112.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58779690500480,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58779690533248,"sku":null,"price":41.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58779690566016,"sku":null,"price":112.95,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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