1959 Map of Cordova

About this map

Cordova serves as the focal point of this coastal survey, situated where Orca Inlet meets the vast glacial drainage of the Copper River. The map illustrates the region's mid-century infrastructure, centered on the Copper River Highway and the Cordova Airport, while recording remote settlements like Ellamar and Tatitlek along the inlets of Prince William Sound. The landscape is dominated by the ice-carved peaks of the Chugach Mountains, featuring landmarks such as Cordova Peak and the McKinley Peak Mine. To the east, the Bering River flows toward Controller Bay, marking a transition toward the reaches of Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park. The alignment of glaciers like the Miles Lake calving front against the jagged coastline provides a detailed record of the maritime and terrestrial boundary during this period of geological and aerial revision.