1951 Map of Fairbanks B-2

About this map

The Wood River flows through a landscape defined by mid-century military operations in the Alaskan interior. This 1951 record shows the expansive Ladd Air Force Base, which at the time utilized a massive Bombing and Gunnery Range stretching across the tundra. The terrain is marked by numerous watercourses, including the braided channels of Bonnifield and the steady paths of Gold King Creek and Willow Creek. The southern edge of the survey is delineated by the Military Reservation Boundary (Approximate), indicating the scale of federal land use in the Tanana Valley during the early Cold War era. This map provides a clear view of the intersection between Alaska's natural drainage systems and its strategic importance as a defense hub.