1950 Map of Fairbanks D-3

About this map

Alaska Railroad tracks wind through the Goldstream Valley on this mid-century survey of the interior landscape northwest of Fairbanks. The geography is defined by prominent high points and the early development of research and infrastructure, notably at Murphy Dome and the Ester Dome Observatory. Small settlements like Saulich and Old Saulich sit along the rail line, while Ester and its post office mark the southeastern hills near a local Ski Lodge. The southern portion of the map is dominated by the Bonanza Creek Experimental Forest and the broad Tanana River floodplain. Notable for local history, the map details a network of primitive transportation including a Tractor Trail and Sled Trail, reflecting the era's reliance on seasonal routes for movemement across the diverse terrain of the Goldstream Creek basin.