Titled “Athol Quadrangle,” this US Geological Survey topographical map presents a finely measured portrait of northern Idaho, surveyed in 1961 and published with a 1973 imprint. Centered on the communities of Athol and Bayview, it captures a region where settled valleys, forested uplands, roads, railways, and lakeside terrain meet the rugged geography of the Inland Northwest. Lake Pend Oreille anchors the eastern portion of the mapped landscape, its deep waters and indented shoreline forming one of the map’s most striking natural features. The later imprint gives the sheet an added historical resonance: it records mid-twentieth-century geographic conditions while standing at the threshold of later development, population growth, and changing land use around Athol, Bayview, and Hayden.

The US Geological Survey’s authority is evident throughout the map’s disciplined, information-rich design. Founded in 1879, the USGS became the nation’s principal scientific agency for mapping terrain, water, minerals, and landscapes, and its quadrangle maps set a standard for precision and clarity. Here, the cartography is characteristically exact: contour lines describe slopes and ridges with quiet rigor, hydrographic features are cleanly distinguished, and roads and rail connections are integrated into the natural terrain rather than imposed upon it. The 1:62,500 scale offers a broad yet still detailed view, ideal for understanding how communities, forests, hills, valleys, and shorelines relate to one another across this part of Kootenai and Bonner County country.

The topographic drama of northern Idaho comes through vividly in the contouring. Around Athol, the land opens into more navigable settlement corridors, while toward Bayview and Lake Pend Oreille the terrain becomes more emphatic, shaped by hills, valleys, forested slopes, and the complex margins of the lake. The contours trace not only elevation but the physical logic of the region: where roads bend to follow easier grades, where streams gather in low ground, and where ridgelines and wooded heights frame movement through the landscape. Eagle Creek and nearby named localities such as Lambert, Cordell Dalen, and Pinehurst contribute to the map’s sense of a populated but still spacious terrain, defined as much by natural form as by human occupation.

Lake Pend Oreille gives the map a particularly compelling geographical and historical focus. One of the largest and deepest lakes in the western United States, it has long shaped settlement, transport, recreation, and regional identity. Bayview, positioned near the southern reaches of the lake, appears as a lakeside community whose location speaks to both practical access and scenic attraction. The surrounding forests, hills, and watercourses reveal a landscape tied to timber, travel, fishing, and outdoor life. Nearby roads, including routes such as Eagle Creek Road, suggest the connective tissue of rural Idaho in the early 1960s, linking small communities, lakefront areas, and interior valleys before later waves of residential and recreational expansion reshaped parts of the region.

As a historical document, the “Athol Quadrangle” preserves a valuable snapshot of Idaho before many contemporary changes in infrastructure, land ownership patterns, and suburban growth. Athol, Hayden, Bayview, and the surrounding named places can be read here in relation to forests, public lands, drainage systems, and transport routes as they stood in the postwar era. The map’s understated aesthetic—precise lettering, measured contour intervals, and clean symbolic language—invites close study rather than spectacle, rewarding the viewer with an intimate understanding of terrain. For collectors of American topographical mapping, it is a compelling example of the USGS at work: scientific, practical, and quietly beautiful, documenting a mountainous lake country at a distinct moment in its modern history.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Athol
• Bayview
• Lake Pend Oreille
• Hayden
• Cordell Dalen
• Eagle Creek
• Lambert
• Eagle Creek Road
• Pinehurst
• St. Joe River
• Mountains
• Hills
• Valleys
• Forests
• Major roads
• Railways
• Public lands and parks

Historical context & cartographic details

• Map Name: Athol Quadrangle
• Date of Creation: 1961; published with a 1973 imprint
• Mapmaker/Publisher: US Geological Survey (USGS)
• Scale: 1:62,500
• Map Type: Historical topographical map
• Cartographic Style: Clear and precise USGS layout, with contour lines used to show elevation changes
• Topographic Character: Shows significant elevation variation, including detailed terrain, water bodies, and mountainous Idaho landscape features
• Historical Significance: Captures the region as it appeared in 1961, offering a comparison point for later land use, infrastructure, and population changes
• USGS Context: The USGS is known for detailed geological and topographical mapping and has played an important role in documenting the geography of the United States

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 18x24in (45x60cm) 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.