1939 Krause Pictorial Map of Isle Royale National Park, Michigan

This is a 1939 Elmer O. C. Krause pictorial map of Isle Royale, part of Isle Royale National Park. Depicting the whole of Isle Royale, an island in Lake Superior, the map depicts the region from Pie Island and Flatland Island, Ontario, Canada to the waters of Lake Superior on the far side of Isle Royale. Known as a 'camper's paradise' and as a 'superior wilderness', Isle Royale National Park was established April 3, 1940. Krause, a National Park Service architect, had a hand in designing the park and designed this map, which was marketed toward tourists and libraries. Details abound, with lakes, points, harbors, and smaller island labeled throughout the park and beyond. Historical facts are 'penciled' in all across the island, informing the viewer of the island's history as a Native American settlement and the role it played in the fur trade. The all-important tourist lodges are also labeled. Several lighthouses placed on points or smaller islands are illustrated in profile. The whole is surrounded by a fantastic pictorial border, which is made up of vignettes illustrating Isle Royale's history, landmarks, and wildlife.

This map was designed by Elmer O. C. Krause and published in 1939. We located examples of this map in a handful of institutions in Michigan, but it is virtually unknown elsewhere and on the private market.