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1951 Map of Craig A-2

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Craig A-2
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The industrial frontier of Prince of Wales Island is clearly visible in this early 1950s survey, marked by specialized extraction infrastructure in the north. The presence of the Jumbo Mine and its connecting Aerial Tram descending into Jumbo Basin reveals the logistical challenges of high-altitude mining near Copper Mtn. Coastal settlements like Copper City and Hetta appear as vital shoreline nodes, serving as the primary gateways between the rugged interior mountains and the labyrinth of navigable waterways like Hetta Inlet and Nutkwa Inlet.

Deep fjords and complex tidal systems define the southern landscape, where Nutkwa Lagoon meets the sea at Nutkwa Falls. This map captures a moment when resource extraction and maritime transit were the primary drivers of settlement on the island, situated entirely within the Tongass National Forest. Researchers can trace the legacy of copper exploration through sites like Coppermount and the small coastal outpost of Mabel.