1954 Map of Dillingham

About this map

Dillingham and Kanakanak sit at the junction of Bristol Bay and the Nushagak River, serving as the primary hub for this expansive river-and-lake system in the mid-1950s. The landscape is defined by the massive drainage basins of the Mulchatna River and Kvichak River, where small settlements like New Stuyahok and Ekwok are linked more by water and Winter Trails than by any modern road network. To the west, the Wood River Mountains rise above a series of deep glacial lakes including Lake Aleknagik, Lake Beverley, and Lake Nerka. This survey captures the region's mid-century character, showing essential infrastructure such as the Seaplane Anchorage and local points like Snag Pt and Grassy Pt that provided navigational markers for the bush pilots and fishermen who worked these coastal and inland waters.