Rare Old Map of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin by USGS, 1954: Plymouth & Kettle Moraine State Forest
Restored in our London workshop from the original 1956 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.The Collector’s Offer
Choose two eligible works and receive 20% off both. Choose three and the lowest-priced one is complimentary, a maximum saving of 33%.
Mix and match eligible standard maps and fine-art prints. No code is required; the offer is applied automatically at checkout.
Standard made-to-order configurations are included. Bespoke sizes, personalised designs and commissioned work are excluded.
Need delivery to different addresses? Contact us before ordering.
Restored in London • Printed and framed in Canada
Restored from the original 1956 map and printed to museum-grade archival standards. Full description
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Gift message & custom finish
If you want to add a gift message, or a finish (jigsaw, aluminium board, etc.) that is not available here, please request it in the "order note" when you check out.
Every order is custom made, so if you need the size adjusted slightly, or printed on an unusual material, just let us know. We've done thousands of custom orders over the years, so there's (almost) nothing we can't manage.
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Titled “Kiel,” this U.S. Geological Survey topographical map presents a finely observed mid-century portrait of eastern Wisconsin’s lake country, dated 1954 and...
Continue readingTitled “Kiel,” this U.S. Geological Survey topographical map presents a finely observed mid-century portrait of eastern Wisconsin’s lake country, dated 1954 and carrying a 1956 imprint. Drawn at the practical 1:62,500 scale, it captures Elkhart Lake and its surrounding settlements, roads, streams, wetlands, and wooded ground with the calm precision characteristic of federal mapping. The sheet belongs to an era when American landscapes were being systematically documented for planning, infrastructure, conservation, and recreation. Here, the rural texture of Sheboygan County and neighboring areas emerges in detail: a pattern of small towns, glacial lakes, farm roads, and rolling uplands that together evoke Wisconsin on the cusp of postwar development.
Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, the map reflects an institution whose work has shaped the understanding of American land since 1879. Founded to classify public lands and examine the nation’s geology and resources, the USGS became the standard-bearer for authoritative topographical mapping. Its maps were not merely navigational tools; they were instruments of public knowledge, supporting engineering, agriculture, water management, forestry, and environmental study. In “Kiel,” that legacy appears through disciplined contouring, carefully differentiated hydrography, and a systematic portrayal of roads, settlements, and land cover. The result is both technical and evocative: a measured federal survey that preserves the character of a particular Wisconsin landscape in the 1950s.
Elkhart Lake forms one of the map’s most appealing focal points, its shoreline set among smaller lakes, streams, and gently varied terrain. Long known as a resort destination, Elkhart Lake drew visitors for boating, fishing, summer cottages, and lakeside leisure, making it one of the region’s defining landmarks. Nearby Plymouth, Glenbeulah, and Greenbush anchor the human geography of the sheet, while Lake Ellen, Lake Buelow, and other smaller water bodies create a landscape shaped by glacial history. Blue linework traces drainageways and wet ground, revealing how water threads through the countryside. The map quietly records the relationship between recreation, settlement, and natural features in one of Wisconsin’s cherished inland lake districts.
The cartographic language is classic USGS: contour lines articulate elevation with understated elegance, allowing the rolling hills and subtle ridges of southeastern Wisconsin to be read at a glance. The terrain shown here belongs to the broader glacially influenced landscape of the Kettle Moraine region, where ice-age deposits left behind irregular hills, basins, lakes, and wetlands. Portions of Kettle Moraine State Forest appear as part of this wider natural setting, emphasizing the area’s ecological and recreational value. Color coding distinguishes land uses and vegetative cover, while roads, trails, and boundaries provide a structured human overlay. The design balances scientific clarity with a richly textured sense of place.
Historically, “Kiel” captures Wisconsin during a period of accelerating postwar change, when improved roads, expanding towns, and recreational travel were reshaping rural regions. Yet the map also preserves an older landscape of farms, woodlots, wetlands, lakeshores, and modest communities connected by local routes. Its careful depiction of Elkhart Lake and the surrounding countryside offers insight into how mid-twentieth-century Americans understood, managed, and moved through the land. For collectors, the sheet is compelling not only as a technical survey, but as a cultural document: a record of leisure, resource stewardship, settlement, and natural beauty in a distinctive corner of Wisconsin. It is a poised and informative example of USGS mapping at its best.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Elkhart Lake
- Plymouth
- Glenbeulah
- Greenbush
- Lake Ellen
- Lake Buelow
- Lake to the east of Elkhart Lake
- Kettle Moraine State Forest
- Various unnamed roads, trails, and land features
- Portions of surrounding wetlands and forested areas
- Water features and streams indicated by blue lines and shaded areas
Historical context & cartographic details
- Map title: Kiel
- Historical 1:62,500 topographical map showing Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin and the surrounding area
- Dated 1954 with a 1956 imprint
- Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
- The USGS has provided geological and topographical information in the United States since 1879
- Elkhart Lake is a popular resort area known for recreational activities including boating and fishing
- Features traditional topographical design with contour lines representing elevation changes
- Includes a color-coded legend indicating different land uses and vegetative cover
- Detailed elevation contours show rolling hills and varied terrain typical of southeastern Wisconsin
- Reflects mid-20th-century American topography and land use during a period of development and infrastructure growth in Wisconsin
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.
Titled “Kiel,” this U.S. Geological Survey topographical map presents a finely observed mid-century portrait of eastern Wisconsin’s lake country, dated 1954 and carrying a 1956 imprint. Drawn at the practical 1:62,500 scale, it captures Elkhart Lake and its surrounding settlements, roads, streams, wetlands, and wooded ground with the calm precision characteristic of federal mapping. The sheet belongs to an era when American landscapes were being systematically documented for planning, infrastructure, conservation, and recreation. Here, the rural texture of Sheboygan County and neighboring areas emerges in detail: a pattern of small towns, glacial lakes, farm roads, and rolling uplands that together evoke Wisconsin on the cusp of postwar development.
Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey, the map reflects an institution whose work has shaped the understanding of American land since 1879. Founded to classify public lands and examine the nation’s geology and resources, the USGS became the standard-bearer for authoritative topographical mapping. Its maps were not merely navigational tools; they were instruments of public knowledge, supporting engineering, agriculture, water management, forestry, and environmental study. In “Kiel,” that legacy appears through disciplined contouring, carefully differentiated hydrography, and a systematic portrayal of roads, settlements, and land cover. The result is both technical and evocative: a measured federal survey that preserves the character of a particular Wisconsin landscape in the 1950s.
Elkhart Lake forms one of the map’s most appealing focal points, its shoreline set among smaller lakes, streams, and gently varied terrain. Long known as a resort destination, Elkhart Lake drew visitors for boating, fishing, summer cottages, and lakeside leisure, making it one of the region’s defining landmarks. Nearby Plymouth, Glenbeulah, and Greenbush anchor the human geography of the sheet, while Lake Ellen, Lake Buelow, and other smaller water bodies create a landscape shaped by glacial history. Blue linework traces drainageways and wet ground, revealing how water threads through the countryside. The map quietly records the relationship between recreation, settlement, and natural features in one of Wisconsin’s cherished inland lake districts.
The cartographic language is classic USGS: contour lines articulate elevation with understated elegance, allowing the rolling hills and subtle ridges of southeastern Wisconsin to be read at a glance. The terrain shown here belongs to the broader glacially influenced landscape of the Kettle Moraine region, where ice-age deposits left behind irregular hills, basins, lakes, and wetlands. Portions of Kettle Moraine State Forest appear as part of this wider natural setting, emphasizing the area’s ecological and recreational value. Color coding distinguishes land uses and vegetative cover, while roads, trails, and boundaries provide a structured human overlay. The design balances scientific clarity with a richly textured sense of place.
Historically, “Kiel” captures Wisconsin during a period of accelerating postwar change, when improved roads, expanding towns, and recreational travel were reshaping rural regions. Yet the map also preserves an older landscape of farms, woodlots, wetlands, lakeshores, and modest communities connected by local routes. Its careful depiction of Elkhart Lake and the surrounding countryside offers insight into how mid-twentieth-century Americans understood, managed, and moved through the land. For collectors, the sheet is compelling not only as a technical survey, but as a cultural document: a record of leisure, resource stewardship, settlement, and natural beauty in a distinctive corner of Wisconsin. It is a poised and informative example of USGS mapping at its best.
Cities, towns and places on this map
- Elkhart Lake
- Plymouth
- Glenbeulah
- Greenbush
- Lake Ellen
- Lake Buelow
- Lake to the east of Elkhart Lake
- Kettle Moraine State Forest
- Various unnamed roads, trails, and land features
- Portions of surrounding wetlands and forested areas
- Water features and streams indicated by blue lines and shaded areas
Historical context & cartographic details
- Map title: Kiel
- Historical 1:62,500 topographical map showing Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin and the surrounding area
- Dated 1954 with a 1956 imprint
- Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
- The USGS has provided geological and topographical information in the United States since 1879
- Elkhart Lake is a popular resort area known for recreational activities including boating and fishing
- Features traditional topographical design with contour lines representing elevation changes
- Includes a color-coded legend indicating different land uses and vegetative cover
- Detailed elevation contours show rolling hills and varied terrain typical of southeastern Wisconsin
- Reflects mid-20th-century American topography and land use during a period of development and infrastructure growth in Wisconsin
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.
Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.
Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.
We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.
- We can deliver directly to the recipient
- Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
- Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
- Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
- 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide
If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.
Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.
We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.
Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.
Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.
Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.
If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.
Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.
Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 10-year guarantee.
Our standard frame is a gallery-style black ash hardwood frame, with a simple, modern look. It is approximately 20mm (0.8in) wide. You can also view some lovely customer photos of framed maps and art.
We use super-clear acrylic glazing, also known as Perspex or Acrylite, instead of traditional glass. It is lighter, safer, and has lower reflectivity, giving the artwork a clearer, cleaner appearance.
Six standard frame colours are available at no extra cost: black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white, and antique gold. Custom framing and mounting/matting is also available for customers looking for something more specific.
Most maps, art prints, and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced wooden box frame, and then float the piece within a wooden outer frame. The finished result is beautifully presented, with no glazing between you and the artwork.
All frames are supplied ready to hang, with either string or brackets fitted to the back. Very large frames will include heavy-duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.
We can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag, and other materials.
If you would prefer to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read our size guide before ordering.
Every Unique Maps piece begins with an authentic cartographic source or an original design from our London studio.
For our historic maps, we source rare originals from libraries, archives, auction houses and private collections around the world. We carefully restore each map for print—repairing age-related damage, balancing colour and improving clarity while preserving its original detail, texture and character.
Once restored, the map is prepared for your chosen size and finish. Your piece is then printed and, where selected, framed close to its delivery destination.
Our map prints use acid-free 200gsm archival matte paper and fade-resistant pigment inks, creating a rich, non-glossy finish designed to last. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.
Canvas, cotton-rag and other specialist presentations are also available. Learn more about our materials and finishes.
Personalising your map
You can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. For personalised designs, we send a proof before printing and you can request changes before approval.
For more complex bespoke commissions, contact our design team.
Original or Aged
Choose Original for true-to-source colour, or Aged for a warmer, richer antique character created with our specialist ageing process. See examples of our Aged maps.
We’ve been restoring and producing maps and art prints since 1984, and we stand behind every piece.
Every order is covered by our 10-year guarantee and damage-free delivery guarantee. If your piece arrives damaged, we’ll replace or remake it free of charge. If anything else isn’t right, contact our workshop team and we’ll put it right promptly.
See our returns and refund policy for full details.
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