{"product_id":"old-map-of-mercer-wisconsin-by-usgs-1973-clear-lake-turtle-lake-crystal-lake","title":"Old Map of Mercer, Wisconsin by USGS, 1973 – Clear Lake, Turtle Lake \u0026 Crystal Lake","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished in 1976 from survey work carried out in 1973, the US Geological Survey’s “Mercer” presents a finely detailed portrait of northern Wisconsin at a scale of 1:24,000. Centered on the community of Mercer, the map captures a landscape defined by water, woodland, and glacial terrain, where roads thread between lakes and low ridges. The original title is understated, yet evocative: a single place-name standing for an intricate local geography. Like the best USGS quadrangles, it transforms a modest area into a layered document of land use, settlement, hydrology, and elevation, preserving the Mercer region at a moment when recreation, conservation, and resource management were increasingly shaping public attention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMercer lies in Wisconsin’s Northwoods, a region whose identity is inseparable from its lakes, forests, and seasonal rhythms. Clear Lake, Turtle Lake, Crystal Lake, and numerous smaller unnamed bodies of water form the map’s most striking pattern, set amid a dense matrix of wooded terrain. These lakes are not merely scenic details; they are the organizing features of the landscape, influencing roads, cabins, trails, drainage, and recreation. The topography suggests the lingering hand of glaciation, with irregular shorelines, wetlands, and subtle elevation changes producing a terrain both intimate and complex. For anglers, canoeists, hikers, and land managers, such mapping would have offered a practical key to a watery wilderness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cartographic language is classic USGS: disciplined, legible, and richly informative. Contour lines model the rise and fall of the land, while blues identify lakes, streams, and marshy corridors, and greens indicate forest cover and natural vegetation. Roads and highways are carefully distinguished, revealing the human framework laid across a predominantly natural setting. The design reflects the Survey’s 1970s topographic style, balancing scientific precision with visual clarity. Even in a region without dramatic mountain relief, the contours are essential, showing the subtle undulations that shape drainage, settlement patterns, and access. The result is a map that rewards close reading, where every line contributes to a fuller understanding of place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe US Geological Survey, established in the late nineteenth century, became one of America’s defining scientific institutions, tasked with measuring and interpreting the nation’s physical landscape. Its topographic quadrangles were indispensable tools for engineers, foresters, planners, outdoor travelers, and environmental researchers. By the 1970s, USGS mapping had become especially important in regions such as northern Wisconsin, where questions of timber, water quality, recreation, and habitat preservation intersected. The “Mercer” sheet belongs to this broader era of systematic environmental awareness, when accurate geographical and hydrological data helped guide decisions about land and water. It is both a navigational aid and a record of how the federal government documented local landscapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a historical document, this map preserves Mercer and its surrounding lakes at a pivotal moment in the modern Northwoods. It shows a community embedded in a rugged recreational landscape, connected by roads yet still dominated by forest and water. The unnamed lakes and streams are as important as the labeled places, suggesting the abundance and complexity of the region’s natural systems. For those interested in Wisconsin history, outdoor culture, or environmental change, the map offers a precise window into the geography of the early 1970s. Its elegance lies in its restraint: through contour, color, and symbol, it reveals a landscape shaped by ice, water, trees, and human movement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMercer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eClear Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTurtle Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrystal Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNumerous unnamed lakes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRivers and streams\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSurrounding roads and highways\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eForested areas and parks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrails\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMap title: \u003cem\u003eMercer\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey (USGS)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical 1:24,000 topographical map of Mercer, Wisconsin, and the surrounding area\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBased on survey data from 1973, with a published imprint date of 1976\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShows lakes, roads, natural landscapes, and surrounding terrain for historical and recreational navigation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses traditional USGS topographic styling, including contour lines, shaded relief, and detailed natural features\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDepicts a rugged northern Wisconsin landscape with varied terrain, many lakes, and forested areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReflects a period when natural resource management and conservation were becoming increasing priorities\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses color to distinguish natural features, including lighter blues for water bodies and green shades for land areas\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":68115603358087,"sku":null,"price":54.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68115603390855,"sku":null,"price":145.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68115603423623,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":68115603456391,"sku":null,"price":54.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68115603489159,"sku":null,"price":145.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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