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1955 Map of Barrow B-4

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Barrow B-4
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

Point Barrow marks the northernmost tip of the United States on this mid-century survey, where the Arctic Ocean meets the Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea. The settlement of Barrow serves as the focal point of the coastline, flanked by Browerville and several lagoons such as Isatkoak Lagoon and Middle Salt Lagoon. This era shows significant strategic and scientific expansion in the high arctic, including the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory and the Barrow Air Force Radar Site situated near North Salt Lagoon.

The landscape is characterized by its network of lakes and marshes, such as Footprint Lake and the Central Marsh, connected only by Winter Trails and Tractor Trails. The map includes the historic site of Nuwuk at the very tip of the point and the Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport, named for the famed aviators who perished nearby. This document captures the transition of the region into a center for cold-weather research and defense during the early Cold War.