1950 Map of Cordova A-2

About this map

Katalla sits at the edge of the Gulf of Alaska on this 1950s-era topography, representing a landscape defined by early industrial exploration and the coastal wilderness. The map documents the specific infrastructure of the Katalla Oil Field, including a Drill Hole and an Old Railroad Grade that speaks to the area's history as the site of Alaska's first oil discovery. These remnants of human activity are set against the shifting geography of the Copper River Delta and the high peaks of Ragged Mountain. From the marshes of Katalla Slough to the offshore reaches of Kanak Island and Wingham Island, the survey provides an intricate view of the shoreline as it existed before later seismic shifts and environmental changes. The presence of a Landing Strip and scattered Cabins near Mirror Slough indicates the remote but active nature of this coastal enclave.