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1950 Map of Fairbanks

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Fairbanks
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Fairbanks serves as the focal point of this mid-century reconnaissance, situated at the confluence of the Chena River and the braided channels of the Tanana River. The landscape reveals a critical hub of Alaskan transport and defense, where the Alaska Railroad meets the Richardson Highway. To the west, the University of Alaska at College marks the region's educational center, while the massive footprint of Ladd Air Force Base and its Bombing and Gunnery Range dominates the terrain to the south.

The presence of numerous Sled Roads and remote settlements like Minto, Dunbar, and Nenana illustrates the era's reliance on winter transport routes alongside the growing aviation infrastructure at Weeks Field and Eielson Air Force Base. From the elevations of Ester Dome to the low-lying Sawmill Slough, the map detail captures the transition from interior wilderness to a strategic military and civilian corridor.