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1948 Map of Anchorage D-3

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Anchorage D-3
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Matanuska River valley serves as the central artery for this late-1940s landscape, where the Glenn Highway winds between the massive formations of the Talkeetna Mountains and the Chugach Mountains. The survey captures the corridor during a period of expanding access, documented shortly after the highway's completion. Significant landmarks like the Watchtower Inn and the small settlement at Purin appear alongside established resource areas like Anthracite Ridge.

Glacial influence is evident at the eastern edge where the Matanuska Glacier meets the river. The topography is defined by sharp elevation shifts, from the high peaks of Chitna Pass down to a series of alpine waters including Index Lake, Hicks Lake, and Hundred Mile Lake. For researchers, the map provides a precise record of early interior infrastructure, including numerous cabins and a network of creeks like Pinochle Creek and Boulder Creek that fed the valley's development.