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1952 Map of Fairbanks A-3

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Fairbanks A-3
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1952
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1952

About this map

Tatlanika Creek flows through the center of this 1952 topographic study, which captures the remote mining and transport infrastructure of interior Alaska at mid-century. The landscape is marked by the presence of a Placer Mine near King Creek and the remote Grubstake Airstrip, indicating a reliance on bush aviation and seasonal mining operations. A traditional Sled Road cuts across the northern terrain, representing a vital winter transportation route before the establishment of modern highways.

The map highlights several surveyor benchmarks, including VABM Murphy 4340, which provided essential data points for mapping this complex drainage network. Named tributaries such as Roosevelt Creek, Grubstake Creek, and Boulder Creek feed into the main waterway, while a lone Cabin serves as a rare sign of permanent or seasonal human habitation in this wilderness area. The detailed contours and identified water features like Ditch suggest a carefully managed approach to hydraulic mining or local irrigation in the region.