Published in 1959 using survey data from 1953, the US Geological Survey’s “Duluth” captures one of the most dramatic urban landscapes on the Great Lakes at a revealing mid-century moment. At a scale of 1:62,500, the map presents Duluth, Minnesota, as both a working industrial city and a settlement shaped by extraordinary natural forces. The dense red of the urban fabric gathers along the shore of Lake Superior and the St. Louis River, while surrounding greens mark the wooded uplands and lake country beyond. Contour lines trace the abrupt rise from the harbor to the ridge above the city, giving immediate visual form to Duluth’s famous hillside setting and its commanding relationship with the inland sea below.

The US Geological Survey brought to this map the rigorous style that made its topographic sheets indispensable to engineers, planners, geologists, hikers, and government agencies. Founded in 1879, the USGS developed a national program of systematic mapping that combined field survey, elevation measurement, hydrography, transportation routes, and land classification into clear, practical cartography. Here, that tradition is evident in the careful layering of information: roads and railways thread through the city and outlying districts, watercourses are crisply drawn, and elevations are rendered through closely spaced contours. The result is not merely a portrait of place, but an analytical instrument, recording how geology, settlement, forest, water, and transport networks converged around one of Minnesota’s most important ports.

Lake Superior dominates the eastern edge of the sheet, its immense presence explaining much of Duluth’s geography, economy, and climate. The city’s harbor system, shaped by Park Point and Minnesota Point, appears as a distinctive linear barrier between open lake and sheltered water, a feature central to Duluth’s maritime identity. Nearby names such as Lighthouse Point, Grassy Point, and McQuade Harbor evoke the navigational and industrial life of the waterfront. The St. Louis River, flowing toward the lake through a complex lowland of channels and flats, marks another major organizing feature. Together, river and lake reveal Duluth as a threshold: between inland forests and global shipping routes, between rugged upland and freshwater coast.

Inland from the waterfront, the map opens into the varied topography of northeastern Minnesota, where hills, streams, and lakes create a finely textured landscape. Spirit Mountain stands out as part of the elevated terrain rising above the St. Louis River valley, while waterways such as the Lester River and Tischer Creek cut down toward Lake Superior through steep, wooded ravines. Lakes including Fish Lake, Island Lake, Daddo Lake, and Ely Lake punctuate the surrounding country, emphasizing the glacially shaped character of the region. The green tint of forested areas gives the map a strong visual rhythm, contrasting with the red urban zones and underscoring how close Duluth remained to extensive woodland and recreational landscapes in the 1950s.

As a historical document, “Duluth” records the city during a period of postwar change, when industrial activity, transportation infrastructure, and suburban expansion were reshaping the Lake Superior shore. Railways, roads, harbor works, and clustered urban development reflect Duluth’s role as a shipping and manufacturing center connected to iron ranges, grain routes, and inland resource economies. Yet the map also preserves a landscape still strongly defined by natural systems: forested ridges, river valleys, lakes, and the climatic force of Superior itself. Its color-coded design makes the tension between built environment and wild terrain immediately legible. For collectors, it offers a precise and atmospheric view of mid-century Duluth—scientific in purpose, elegant in execution, and rich with regional history.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Duluth, MN
• Lake Superior
• St. Louis River
• Spirit Mountain
• Lester River
• Ely Lake
• Fish Lake
• Daddo Lake
• Island Lake
• Tischer Creek
• Park Point
• Minnesota’s Point
• McQuade Harbor
• Lighthouse Point
• Factory Hollow
• Grassy Point
• Various roads and railways throughout the mapped area
• Parks and forests as indicated by color coding

Historical context & cartographic details

• Historical 1:62,500 topographical map of Duluth, Minnesota, and the surrounding area.
• Produced by the US Geological Survey, using survey data from 1953 with a 1959 imprint.
• Published by the USGS, known for comprehensive geographic data collection and topographical mapping across the United States.
• Uses color coding for land uses, with green indicating forested areas and red indicating urban regions.
• Contour lines show elevation changes, hills, valleys, and the significant elevation gradient typical of the Duluth area.
• The proximity to Lake Superior is a major geographic feature, influencing the area’s terrain and climate.
• Reflects mid-20th century environmental and urban development trends in Duluth.
• Shows urban versus natural spaces through its overall color use and visual design.

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed 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.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every 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.

With 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 rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.