Titled “Lake George,” this United States Geological Survey map presents one of New York’s most storied Adirondack landscapes with the clarity and authority of mid-twentieth-century scientific cartography. Surveyed in 1966 and carrying a 1969 imprint, it records the Lake George region at a moment when recreation, road access, and conservation were all reshaping the relationship between people and the mountains. At 1:24,000 scale, the map offers an intimate view of the lake’s shoreline, bays, villages, ridges, roads, and waterways. Its dense contouring gives the sheet a sculptural quality, transforming the terrain into a readable pattern of slopes, valleys, and uplands surrounding the long, narrow lake often called the “Queen of American Lakes.”

The USGS, established in 1879, became the nation’s preeminent authority on topographical mapping, creating the cartographic framework by which American landscapes were measured, managed, developed, and preserved. Maps such as this one were not decorative fantasies but instruments of precision, designed for engineers, planners, hikers, scientists, and public agencies. Yet their disciplined graphic language has a beauty of its own: contour lines, hydrographic forms, road hierarchies, and place names combine into a refined visual grammar. This Lake George sheet reflects the USGS’s mature postwar mapping style, in which meticulous field data and standardized symbols produced an exceptionally legible portrait of terrain, settlement, and infrastructure.

Lake George dominates the composition, with its articulated shoreline broken by promontories, coves, and bays including Northwest Bay, Huddle Bay, Dunham Bay, and Harris Bay. Lake George Village appears near the southern end, close to Fort William Henry, a site charged with colonial and military history. Assembly Point and Speaker Heck mark the intricate peninsulas and waterfront communities that give the lake its distinctive character. Roads, including U.S. Route 9, trace the corridors of movement through the mountains, while railways, trails, and smaller local routes reveal how visitors and residents navigated the region. Nearby Warrensburg and Bolton Landing place the lake within the broader human geography of the Adirondacks.

The topography is among the map’s most compelling features. Closely spaced contour lines rise away from the lake, showing the steep, hilly terrain that frames the water and defines the Adirondack experience. Valleys cut through the uplands, streams such as West Brook drain toward the lake, and smaller ponds and wetlands punctuate the surrounding forested landscape. These details situate Lake George not merely as a scenic destination, but as part of a larger hydrological and geological system. The map also evokes the proximity of Adirondack Park, whose blend of public and private lands made it one of America’s most distinctive conservation experiments.

Historically, this map captures a landscape balanced between wilderness identity and twentieth-century development. By the 1960s, Lake George was already a celebrated resort and recreation area, with roads, shoreline communities, and tourist destinations layered onto terrain long valued for its dramatic scenery. At the same time, conservation concerns were increasingly shaping regional planning, especially within the Adirondack Park. The map preserves that transitional moment: villages and transportation routes are clearly present, yet the contours, forests, bays, and mountain forms still command the eye. It is a richly detailed record of place, revealing how geography, history, and environmental stewardship converged around one of New York’s most iconic lakes.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Lake George
• Fort William Henry
• Warrensburg
• Bolton Landing
• Lake George Village
• Adirondack Park
• Speaker Heck
• Assembly Point
• Ticonderoga
• Lake Champlain
• Northwest Bay
• Huddle Bay
• Dunham Bay
• Harris Bay
• West Brook
• U.S. Route 9
• Trails, roads, and railways
• Nearby mountain ranges and peaks
• Various small lakes and bodies of water in the vicinity

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the United States Geological Survey, this historical 1:24,000 topographical map shows Lake George in New York and the surrounding area.
• The map is dated 1966 and carries a 1969 imprint.
• The USGS is a scientific agency of the U.S. government, known for producing topographical maps since the late 19th century.
• USGS mapping has played an important role in land use, resource management, planning, and conservation.
• The map prominently features Lake George and the surrounding region, highlighting its importance as a natural landmark.
• Detailed contour lines represent elevation changes and illustrate the hilly terrain and valleys around Lake George.
• The map captures the geography of the area at a specific historical moment, reflecting both natural features and human alterations.
• Development and conservation efforts have changed parts of the Lake George region since this map was made.
• The map’s dense contouring and strong topographic detail are typical of USGS topographical maps from this era.

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.