1955 Map of Barrow

About this map

Point Barrow and the surrounding coastline of the Chukchi Sea and Beaufort Sea are captured in this mid-century survey of Alaska's northernmost reaches. The map details the remote settlements of Barrow and Browerville, alongside significant infrastructure including the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory and the Wiley Post-Will Rogers Memorial Airport. The landscape is a complex network of coastal features like Elson Lagoon and the Plover Islands, with several landmarks commemorating the 1935 air crash, such as the Will Rogers and Wiley Post Memorial. Early energy exploration in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska is evident through labels for the South Barrow Gas Well No 1 and North Simpson Test Well No 1. Inland, the terrain is dominated by vast lake systems like Ikpikpuk Lake and Sukok Lake, connected by seasonal routes like the Winter Trail.