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1952 Map of Anchorage A-8

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Anchorage A-8
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

Anchorage and its surrounding military and transportation hubs are caught in a period of significant mid-century expansion along the Knik Arm. This survey highlights the city's transition into a regional aviation center, showing both the established Merrill Airport and the development of the International Airport near Lake Spenard. The landscape is dominated by federal footprints, including Elmendorf Air Force Base and the Fort Richardson Military Reservation, which border residential areas like Mountain View and Artesian Village.

To the south, the Alaska Railroad skirts the coastline of Turnagain Arm, passing through smaller settlements like Potter and Rainbow. Local landmarks such as the Prison Farm and the Turnagain Childrens Home provide unique genealogical and social history points. The terrain shifts from the developed lowland grid to the rising elevations of Flattop Mountain and McHugh Peak, illustrating the geographic constraints on the city's growth.