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6-Pause Main Page

Virtual Trip along the portage

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How to get a video or Quicktime version of 2002 6-Pause Portage project

Below are links to maps illustrating 6-Pause portage. Maps will be listed chronologically and will have a brief annotation.

James Duane Doty (1820) was a government agent represnting the territorial interests of the United States of America. While his journal dialog of 6-Pause is brief, 6-Pause Portage is well illustrated on Doty's map as a key route.

Thomas Jefferson Cram (1842) was a government agent in charge of surveying the modern border between Wisconsin and the upper peninsula of Michigan. Cram was overwhelmed by his task and, after striking the East Branch of the Montreal River, traveled southeast to Trout Lake via 6-Pause Portage in an effort to triangulate his survey between Lac Vieux Desert and the East Branch of the Montreal. Cram makes no real mention of the portage trail due to his fatigue and extensive notes on the border.

J.N. Nicolet (1842) Map of Hydrology has particularly fine detail of 6-Pause Portage with the portage identified by an Ojibwe name"Mikinag" which means a series of roads. This historic geographic reference further reinforces the improtance of the Mercer area as historic district.

A. B. Gray (1846) was a geologist who was surveying the area south of the copper and iron ranges along Lake Superior to determine if any mineral wealth could be found in the interior lake region. His scientific and cultural observations are excellent. Gray traveled up the Manitowish River to the Trout Lake band of the Ojibwe adding some fine insight relative to the Turtle Band of the Ojibwe and 6-Pause Portage.

J. G. Norwood (1847) was a geologist who also surveyed the interior region for mineral wealth and was attached to the Owen Expedition. Norwood kept an extensive journal of his travels with the greatest detail. His map is outstanding and was drawn by an Ojibwe whom included the names of many lakes and portages written in native language. Norwood kept great journals of all his travels and was the most scientific in his record of 6-Pause Portage. Norwood's work is the most comprehensive regarding the Turtle Portage, the Flambeau Trail and Turtle Band of the Ojibwe.

Henry Schoolcraft (1954) was one of the most widely traveled and inflential agents of the U.S. government. Schoolcraft's records and maps literally fill volumes of books. His 1854 map is of great importance due to the detail of Native American Bands, portages and key cultural resources.

US Survey of Mercer township 1865 - The United States of America passed a key Land Ordinace in 1785 to prrovide for a systematic means of surveying the US to establish property boundries for townships. The townships across the USA were designated to encumber a 36 square mile area. Surveyors were trained to use chains and compases to accurately measure the boundries of each square mile within a township. Survey field ledgers and maps of the Mercer area were established by US surveyors in 1865. The 6-Pause Portage trail is accurately marked on each section line within these ledgers and maps. Unfortunately, the interior of each section was not extensively surveyed.

Trygg Map of Mercer Area - The Trygg maps are modern day versions of historic data and based on the orginal land surveys. Trygg used the orginal surveys and other maps to create some of the most comprehensive recreation of cultural resources in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Iowa. These inexpensive color maps can be purchased from the Trygg Map Company in Ely, Minnesota.