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1951 Map of Dixon Entrance

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Dixon Entrance
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

Prince of Wales Island and the surrounding Alexander Archipelago dominate this 1951 survey of the maritime boundary between Alaska and British Columbia. The intricate coastline is defined by deep inlets and narrow passages like the Tlevak Strait and Howkan Narrows, which have long served as essential marine corridors for the Haida and Tlingit people. Settlements such as Howkan and Klinkwan are situated on these vital waterways, reflecting the region's reliance on the sea for transport and sustenance.

Remote outposts and family landmarks are scattered across the islands, from the Forrester Island National Wildlife Refuge in the open Pacific to the sheltered McLean Arm on the southern tip of the main island. The map records a landscape of high peaks and freshwater resources like Nichols Lake and Hessa Lake, providing a detailed look at the southern end of the Alaska Panhandle before the modern era of intensive industrial development.