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1949 Map of Craig D-4

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Craig D-4
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Prince of Wales Island and the complex waterways of the Alexander Archipelago are captured here in 1949, reflecting a period when maritime activity was the primary pulse of the region. The map documents several significant sites of former habitation, explicitly marking Deweyville, Tuxekan, and Karheen as abandoned, which provides critical data for genealogists and historians tracing the shift of indigenous and industrial settlements in Southeast Alaska.

Navigational life is evidenced by the Seaplane Base and settlements like New Tokeen and Kaikli, situated along the winding Tuxekan Passage and El Capitan Passage. The presence of Silver Salmon Falls on the Lester River and the naming of Sarkar Rapids highlight the natural bottlenecks and landmarks essential to local travel and fishing. This 1940s topography shows a landscape of islands, including Tuxekan Island and Heceta I, where the tide-driven waters were the only highways available.