1948 Map of Anchorage D-3

About this map

The Matanuska River carves a wide path through this 1948 survey, flanked by the high Talkeetna Mountains to the north and the Anthracite Ridge to the south. The southern edge of the map is dominated by the massive Matanuska Glacier, whose runoff feeds numerous tributaries like Glacier Creek and Gravel Creek. This landscape represents a critical corridor for interior travel, centered on the Glenn Highway as it follows the river valley. Along this route, small outposts and landmarks like the Watchtower Inn and the settlement of Purin appear as isolated points of human activity in the mountain wilderness.