1962 Map of Anchorage

About this map

The Alaska Railroad and the Glenn Highway serve as the primary conduits through this expansive Alaskan landscape, connecting the growing hub of Anchorage to the outlying valleys and mountain ranges. The map details the transition from the coastal military installations of Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson Military Reservation to the developing settlements of Wasilla, Palmer, and Chugiak. In the north, the industrial history of the region is anchored by the Independence Mine State Historical Park and the coal-rich areas near Jonesville and Eska. To the east, the topography is dominated by massive ice fields and tidal waters, including the Columbia Glacier and College Fiord. This survey provides a rare look at the glaciology of the Chugach Mountains before major modern recessions, documenting the reach of the Matanuska Glacier and Harvard Glacier as they appeared in the mid-20th century.