1951 Map of Kenai D-3

About this map

Industrial development and wilderness conservation meet along the eastern shores of Cook Inlet in this 1951 record. The map reveals the early infrastructure of the Swanson River Oil Field, featuring several Oil Wells and a Landing Strip carved into the low-lying terrain. These signs of extraction are countered by the establishment of the Kenai National Moose Range, which encompasses a dense network of small water bodies like Scaup Lake, Dunlin Lake, and Snipe Lake. Along the coastline, the Captain Cook State Recreation Area Road provides access to the shore near Gray Cliff and Number Three Bay. The landscape is characterized by expansive Tidal Flats and the winding course of the Swanson River, illustrating a moment when the Kenai Peninsula’s natural resources were being systematically mapped and utilized.