1951 Map of Coleen

About this map

The Porcupine River flows through this remote northern landscape where the United States Canada border meets the interior of Alaska. This mid-century reconnaissance survey captures a vast hydrological network defined by the Coleen River and the braided path of the Sheenjek River. Human presence is sparse, marked primarily by isolated outposts like Old Rampart and Owens Cabins, which likely served as crucial landmarks for trappers and travelers before modern aviation transformed northern transit. The terrain is punctuated by distinctive peaks such as Coleen Mountain and Rabbit Mountain, and notable water features including the Upper Ramparts and Smith Lake. The map serves as a record of the international boundary region's physical geography, including the Alaska Yukon line, at a time when much of the interior remained accessible only by water or wilderness trail.