Very cool to browse:

https://www.lib.umn.edu/apps/mhapo/

The older ones show a lot of those old logging roads that have been lost to time in the BWCA. Some really cool ones on Lake Superior too. Total rabbit hole. If anyone finds something particularly interesting, post it please.

Daniel

Here is the Link

I could spend some time on this site, thanks.

That looks like a fun project for the winter to look at all of these.

Unfortunately there aren't many for Lake County. I did some investigating a few years ago and was not able to find out why. The best answer I got was that the data just doesn't exist. Because the missing data falls so neatly on the county lines I feel it must have just been misplaced or perhaps lost in a fire or something before being digitized.

If anyone has any info on Lake County historic aerials, it would be great to learn more.

I looked at ones from the 1930's and now from my hometown area and you can see how they manipulated much of the landscape and water drainage and thus water is diverted and causing floods even in my forested area. Zero though was put into the process back than.

Yes it is fun to look at old logging roads etc. of the BWCA and other areas. I wonder if you can find one of the Forest Center on Isabella lake?

Thanks for sharing the link - these are really cool. I immediately looked for the lumber camp near Swan Lake (the remnants of which you can see today on the end of the portage from Vernon), and there's a pretty good view of it in the 1934 map.


Likewise, I've always been intrigued by what looked to be an old garbage dump that we found near the campsite on Mid-Cone that contained a lot of rusted-out pots/pans and a few pieces of bottles. The same 1934 aerial gives a good view of those structures, too. Maybe another logging camp?

Interesting. I see many float planes on Shagawa lake. What in now Miners lake in Ely you can also see it as a working open pit mine.

Yes it is to bad Lake county is missing.

You can view old topo maps on
this-site.

Thanks for the link..

Yes, thanks for posting the link.

I really wanted to compare the Kawishiwi River/Garden Lake area before and after the dam was built, but they are among the missing areas and the timeline isn't right either.

interesting site. i've been searching for a location on the Minnesota river (southern MN and not in the BW). the map that shows up for the river looks the same for each decade i choose. plus the photo credits the DNR instead of MHAPO.

I look thru the Iowa version of these all the time. Seeing what farm places looked like, how many less trees there were compared to now. I took an aerial imagery class in grad school which was interesting and useful for Ag

They are nice,close to my house you can see on like 1930 aerial a couple of marshes and the way the water flows. Now the marsh is gone and they moved so much dirt the water flows a different direction causing a few homes to flood once in awhile that would never have otherwise.

3Ball: "Yes, thanks for posting the link.


I really wanted to compare the Kawishiwi River/Garden Lake area before and after the dam was built, but they are among the missing areas and the timeline isn't right either."

3Ball I doubt you find any aerial maps Prairie Portage dam was built around 1900. Winton power dam I don't know maybe 1920s. First airplane came to Ely in the 1920s landed on the ice Shagawa lake and gave rides for $5 a person. My point is I think don't think you will find aerials before that. I have a copy of an old cloth map I gave to my nephew. When I find time I will look an that map and see if it has info that might help you.

Ely Echo archive article on Winton power dam. Talks about others dams and water flowing that way. Winton dam link|
And a link talking about Prairie Portage dam and fixing it. It says water on Moose Lake chain would have dropped about 8 feet. Prairie Portage dam link.|
Click on full size image to make it easier to read. You can also search other topics.

I once stayed at the lumber camp on Brule. Fun to see it in this 1934 photo.
Brule Lake Lumber camp

ellahallely: "3Ball I doubt you find any aerial maps Prairie Portage dam was built around 1900. Winton power dam I don't know maybe 1920s. First airplane came to Ely in the 1920s landed on the ice Shagawa lake and gave rides for $5 a person. My point is I think don't think you will find aerials before that. I have a copy of an old cloth map I gave to my nephew. When I find time I will look an that map and see if it has info that might help you."

Thanks Ellahalley. Good information.

3Ball: "

ellahallely: "3Ball I doubt you find any aerial maps Prairie Portage dam was built around 1900. Winton power dam I don't know maybe 1920s. First airplane came to Ely in the 1920s landed on the ice Shagawa lake and gave rides for $5 a person. My point is I think don't think you will find aerials before that. I have a copy of an old cloth map I gave to my nephew. When I find time I will look an that map and see if it has info that might help you."

Thanks Ellahalley. Good information."

Good memory Ella-I looked it up and
Prairie Portage wooden dam was built in 1902 and washed out in 1968 than rebuilt after that.
Does anyone remember if the water level dropped in 1968 washout in Found-Moose lake than?

I don't remember the water dropping very much. If it did they must of made temporary repairs to the dam to maintain water levels. My father had a 21ft tri-hull boat with I/O he bought for Basswood. I remember very well traveling the Moose lake chain in the early 70s with little problems other then the narrows going into Newfound lake. I don't remember what things were like past that towards Ensign.

They hated that boat at Prairie Portage. I also remember houseboats on Basswood then. They would spend the winter frozen in the ice. Maybe in Hoist Bay.
Jim