1952 Map of Healy D-5

About this map

Lignite and the nearby Diamond Coal Mine anchor the eastern corridor of this 1952 Alaskan interior survey, where industry and transportation follow the path of the Nenana River. This region illustrates the vital connection between natural resources and the infrastructure required to extract them, centered on the transit provided by The Alaska Railroad and a local Airstrip. To the west, the landscape transitions into the federally protected wilderness of Mt McKinley National Park, defined by the northward flow of the Savage River, Sanctuary River, and Teklanika River. The map documents a frontier environment where remote outposts like Ranger Cabin and various Tractor Trails provide the only human imprint on the northern slopes of the Alaska Range. From the high peaks of Mt Healy to the marshy lowlands of Fish Creek, this record captures the mid-century intersection of conservation and mining.