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1954 Map of Circle A-6

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Circle A-6
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Steese Highway cuts through the northern interior of Alaska in this mid-century topographic record, tracing a path just south of the Chatanika River. The landscape is dominated by a complex network of waterways, including the Little Chena River and Anaconda Creek, which carve through the high elevations between Twin Buttes and Davidson Flat. A notable piece of historical infrastructure is the Davidson Ditch, an extensive conduit built to support large-scale placer mining operations by transporting water across the rugged terrain.

Evidence of the region's mining-related nomenclature is found in labels like Bonanza Creek, First Pup, and Second Pup, terms often associated with gold prospecting. The presence of a Siphon along the water systems further highlights the engineering required to move resources through this environment. This survey captures a moment when traditional gold-country landmarks coexisted with the evolving transportation corridor connecting Fairbanks to the interior.