1952 Map of Fairbanks

About this map

Fairbanks serves as the hub of this mid-century survey, a period when the interior of Alaska was rapidly modernizing through military expansion and transportation development. The landscape is defined by the braided courses of the Tanana River and Nenana River, which provided the historic corridors for the river-and-rail economy. The presence of the University of Alaska and the burgeoning community of North Pole reflect the civilian growth of the era, while the massive Bombing and Gunnery Range and Eielson Air Force Base indicate the strategic Cold War importance of the region.