1965 Map of Gulkana

About this map

The Copper River and its major tributaries, including the Gulkana River and Tazlina River, dominate this mid-century portrait of interior Alaska. The convergence of three vital overland routes—the Glenn Highway, Richardson Highway, and Denali Highway—anchors the settlement patterns of the era, from the hub at Gakona Junction to the aviation infrastructure at the Gulkana Airport. These roads trace the historic corridors of movement through the river basins, connecting established communities like Gulkana and Glennallen with more remote locales such as Tyone Village. To the east, the dramatic elevations of the Wrangell Mountains rise sharply, featuring massive ice formations like the Sanford Glacier and Nadina Glacier flowing from peaks including Mount Sanford and Mount Drum. The western half of the map reveals a vast, water-heavy landscape centered on Lake Louise, Tyone Lake, and Tazlina Lake, illustrating the complex drainage systems that define the region's geography.