1952 Map of Big Delta B-6

About this map

The Tanana River floodplains and the high-latitude wetlands of interior Alaska are defined here by a series of prominent glacial lakes and military footprints. In the early 1950s, the Richardson Highway served as the primary terrestrial artery, connecting roadside landmarks like Aurora Lodge and Silver Fox Lodge to the surrounding wilderness. To the south, the expansive Ladd Air Force Base Bombing and Gunnery Range occupies a significant portion of the landscape, its Military Reservation Boundary tracing the braided channels of the Tanana. The survey captures a moment when the Military Rest Camp (Aban'd) near Birch Lake had already transitioned from its wartime role. This map documents a transitional period where recreational spaces like the Harding Lake Recreational Area began to coexist with industrial sites like the Gravel Pit and seasonal routes like the Winter Trail.