Published in 1963 using survey data from 1961, “Chambers Island Quadrangle” is a finely observed United States Geological Survey topographical map of one of Wisconsin’s most evocative coastal landscapes. At 1:62,500 scale, it presents Chambers Island, Egg Harbor, and the surrounding waters and shorelines of Green Bay with the disciplined clarity for which USGS mapping is prized. The map captures Door County at a fascinating moment, before later decades of resort growth and conservation planning reshaped parts of the peninsula. Its clean palette separates land and water with immediate visual force, while the contour lines reveal the subtle rises, wooded interiors, shore terraces, and low-lying margins that define this Lake Michigan region.

The United States Geological Survey brought a scientific rigor to American cartography that transformed the way landscapes were measured, understood, and governed. Founded in 1879, the agency became synonymous with topographical precision, combining field survey, geodetic control, hydrography, and standardized symbology into maps that served engineers, conservationists, planners, travelers, and the military alike. This quadrangle belongs to that tradition: practical in purpose, yet rich in historical atmosphere. Its symbols for roads, trails, shoreline forms, vegetation patterns, and elevation create a compact portrait of place. Rather than simply naming settlements, the map records how people moved through the land, where access was possible, and how human settlement related to water, woodland, and terrain.

Chambers Island itself anchors the composition, set within the broad expanse of Green Bay. Its contours give form to an island landscape of gentle elevation changes, interior woods, and indented shoreline, while nearby mainland features establish its relationship to the Door Peninsula. Egg Harbor appears as a key populated place, historically tied to maritime access, fishing, small-scale commerce, and later tourism. Fish Creek, Baileys Harbor, Jacksonport, Sturgeon Bay, and Little Sturgeon Bay situate the map within the larger geography of Door County, where bays, harbors, and portage routes shaped settlement patterns. The many named and unnamed water features underscore the region’s dependence on shoreline geography and seasonal movement.

The map’s topographical language is especially compelling in a region whose drama is often understated rather than mountainous. Contour lines trace modest but meaningful changes in elevation, showing ridges, depressions, and slopes that influence drainage, road placement, and settlement. Ephemeral lakes and small inland wet areas appear as part of a delicate hydrological fabric, revealing landscapes that may shift with season and rainfall. Roads and trails thread between shore communities and wooded interiors, documenting access before later expansion and modernization. The contrast between the open water of Green Bay and the textured landforms of Chambers Island and the mainland gives the map a quiet graphic elegance, balancing scientific accuracy with visual beauty.

Historically, this quadrangle offers a valuable view of Door County before its modern identity as a major leisure destination had fully matured. The presence of Potawatomi State Park and the surrounding natural features points to the region’s growing conservation importance, while the mapped towns and harbor settlements reflect older patterns of local life. Death’s Door, the famously treacherous passage between the Door Peninsula and the islands to the north, adds a note of maritime legend and navigational consequence. Washington Island and the broader island chain evoke centuries of Indigenous presence, European exploration, fishing, shipping, and lighthouse culture. As a record of terrain, travel, and shoreline settlement, the map preserves a poised moment in Wisconsin’s coastal history.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Egg Harbor
• Chambers Island
• Green Bay
• Fish Creek
• Sturgeon Bay
• Washington Island
• Jacksonport
• Baileys Harbor
• Little Sturgeon Bay
• Death's Door
• Potawatomi State Park
• Door County
• Ephemeral Lakes, various unnamed

Historical context & cartographic details

• Produced by the United States Geological Survey, or USGS, a scientific agency of the U.S. government known for mapping and studying the country’s geography.
• Historical 1:62,500 topographical map showing Egg Harbor, Wisconsin, and the surrounding area.
• Created using survey data from 1961, with a publication date of 1963.
• Includes traditional topographical features such as contour lines indicating elevation.
• Uses a clear color palette to distinguish land from water.
• Shows varied terrain, with contour lines illustrating the topography of Chambers Island and parts of the nearby mainland.
• Provides historical context for an area that has changed since 1963 through development, conservation, and the impact of tourism.
• Roads and trails are indicated on the map.

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.