OK, I love maps and am working on my first trip to the BWCA. I ordered the NatGeo maps, the Voyageur map, the McKenzie map, and the USGS topo maps for the quadrangles I plan to paddle. While studying the maps, I came across this symbol (a Red Box with an "F" in it) and can't find any reference to it in any of the USGS topo sites. I've never seen it before. Anybody know what it is?

Thanks,
Nick

It would Be helpful if you expanded the view. That f symbol on a usgs topo map represents a Fire station.

Thanks. It is located on the east end of Sea Gull Lake. It was the first time I'd ever seen one. Is it a USFS fire station?

Nick

It may be the location or former location of a fire tower...not sure though. It looks from the contour lines that the “F” may not be at the highest point of elevation in the area, which would be rare for a fire tower.

Tony

Is it just south of Sea Gull Creek? Then maybe a volunteer fire department station.

Here is a larger view of the area.

Yep. That’s the volunteer fire department/community center. The symbol is just misplaced a bit.

inspector13: "
Yep. That’s the volunteer fire department/community center. The symbol is just misplaced a bit.

"

Agreed, just a bit misplaced. Here is a document showing the symbol and meaning:
US Topo Map Symbols

Thanks! Son of a gun, don't know how I missed that in my review of USGS symbols.

Poor guy, you bought all those maps and didn't get the good one! ;)

thegildedgopher: "Poor guy, you bought all those maps and didn't get the good one! ;)"

Story of my life, although the date on the USGS topos are dated 2019. Unlike my older topo maps, these do not show buildings of any kind with the exception of that fire station indicator. Go figure. You'd think the latest editions would include more detail, although the 1959/1986 photo revised map does. I guess, like me, sometimes older is better.