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1952 Map of Gulkana D-3

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

USGS Topo · Published 1952

About this map

The Gakona River carves a braided path through this interior landscape, meeting the Copper River in an area of complex water systems and high-altitude terrain. Early post-war infrastructure is centered around the Richardson Highway, which serves as the primary artery for the region. Travelers and residents in 1949 relied on the Meier Lodge near the banks of Gillespie Creek for services along this vital route.

Mapping of this territory in the mid-century shows a mix of precise surveying and areas with insufficient photo coverage, particularly in the northeastern quadrant. Local landmarks like Round Top Mountain and several survey points, including VABM 3363 Meiers, provide fixed navigational markers for bush pilots and surveyors. A Tractor Trail branching off the highway suggests the early attempts to push further into the wilderness areas surrounding Otter Creek and the marshy basins of the south.