1964 Map of Beechey Point

About this map

Prudhoe Bay and the northern coastline of Alaska are captured here just before the discovery of oil transformed the North Slope. This 1964 survey, based on mid-1950s data, illustrates a sparsely settled wilderness where the landscape is defined by the braided channels of the Sagavanirktok River and the Kuparik River flowing into the Beaufort Sea. The map reveals a series of coastal barriers and island chains, including the Jones Islands, Return Islands, and McClure Islands, which protect shallow waters like Simpson Lagoon and Gwydyr Bay. Human presence is minimal, noted only by scattered cabins along the shoreline and river deltas, reflecting an era of remote research, subsistence, and early exploration. The intricate hydrography of the Putuligayuk River and various inlets like Foggy Island Bay provides a detailed look at the hydrology of the tundra before industrial infrastructure arrived.