1960 Map of Anchorage C-4

About this map

The Metal Creek Glacier dominates the central landscape of this 1960 field-annotated survey, where the icy expanse feeds the south-flowing Metal Creek. This high-altitude region of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough is defined by its drainage networks, with Carbon Creek and Coal Creek cutting through the northern elevations. The map reveals a land before formal roads or trails were established, as noted by the U. S. Geological Survey in its 1974 publication of these findings. Topography was derived from aerial photography taken in the 1950s, capturing a pristine view of the glacial terminus and the surrounding drainage basins like Cottonwood Creek. The absence of human-made infrastructure emphasizes the raw, natural state of this Alaskan interior during the mid-century era, providing a primary record for those studying glaciology or the shifting hydrology of the Matanuska Valley.