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1950 Map of Bethel

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Bethel
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

The Kuskokwim River serves as the central artery for this mid-century survey, anchoring a network of riverside settlements and sloughs including Akiachak, Akiak, and Nunapitchuk. The landscape transitions from the delta lowlands surrounding Bethel and Oscarville to the prominent heights of the Kilbuck Mountains and the Eek Mountains in the east. Notable for genealogists and local historians is the identification of Willie Petes Graveyard Point near the main river channel, alongside early aviation infrastructure like the Bethel Municipal Airport.

A Winter Trail connects several northern villages, tracing a path through the tundra that predates modern road development. The interior is defined by significant water systems like the Kisaralik River and Kwethluk River, which drain from peaks such as Marvel Dome and Shining Dome. The map illustrates a region where life was deeply tied to the seasonal cycles of the river and the surrounding Great Ridge.