Every Lake
Lake McKusick
Dammed in the 1840s to power John McKusick's sawmill above Stillwater.
- 6 ft · first step
- 11 ft
- 17 ft
- 23 ft
- 29 ft
- 34 ft · bottom
About Lake McKusick
Lake McKusick sits on the north edge of Stillwater, Minnesota, a St. Croix River town built on the timber trade. It takes its name from John McKusick, one of the founders who dammed the outlet in the 1840s to run a sawmill, turning a small spring-fed basin into a millpond. Stillwater grew up downstream on log drives and lumber money, and the lake's dam has marked the edge of town ever since.
In June 2024, heavy rain pushed the McKusick dam near its limit, and city officials evacuated parts of downtown Stillwater over fears the spillway could fail and send water through the business district below. The lake drains through Brown's Creek to the St. Croix. Today it borders residential streets and a walking path, and locals use it for fishing and short walks rather than boating, given its size.
- 6 depth layers, each step engraved with its depth in feet
- Compass rose, title block with coordinates, max depth and area; keyhole hanger on the back
Turn it in your hands
Live 3D of the actual cut files — drag to orbit, pinch to zoom. Every road you see is engraved on the real thing.
Viewer not showing? Open it full screen.
Lake McKusick depth chart, in wood
This is a Lake McKusick depth chart you can hang: 6 stacked layers of birch, each one a depth contour — 6 ft, 11 ft, 17 ft, 23 ft, 29 ft and deeper, down to the deepest hole at about 34 ft. The lake covers about 0.1 square miles. The shape of the bottom is the real one from published soundings, so anglers recognise their drop-offs and points.
A Lake McKusick map for the wall — or a gift
Most of these go to a cabin wall, a lake house entry, or a home office; a lot are gifts — the family that has been on Lake McKusick for three generations, the retirement move, the first boat. The 12-inch is the desk-and-shelf size; the 24- and 30-inch boards read across a room. Add a line under the title and star your place on the shore, and it becomes the map of your Lake McKusick.
Lake McKusick map — the details
How big is the map?
Four sizes: 12, 17, 24 and 30 inches on the long side, from $149. Every size is cut from the same depth data of Lake McKusick; the bigger boards carry more shoreline roads and place names.
Is it made from real depth data?
Yes. Lake McKusick is cut layer by layer from published bathymetric soundings — each layer of birch is a depth contour, so the shape of the bottom is the real one, not decorative.
Can I add my own place on it?
Yes. At checkout you can add a line under the title (a family name, a cabin name, a year) and star the spot on the shore that matters to you.
How long does it take?
Made to order in Waterford, Pennsylvania and shipped in 7–10 days; shipping is free in the lower 48.
Can you make a lake that isn't listed?
Any lake in the United States — we hold depth data for 104,419 of them. Search for yours; if it isn't built yet we build it when you order.
- 6 depth layers down to 34 ft
- 0.1 square miles of water
- Title block, compass rose and depth markers
- Birch plywood, keyhole hanger, made in Waterford, PA
