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1955 Map of Ketchikan A-4

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Ketchikan A-4
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The maritime landscape of Southeast Alaska is defined here by the convergence of the Revillagigedo Channel, Behm Canal, and Felice Strait. Centrally located, Mary Island serves as a critical navigational hub, home to the Mary Island Lighthouse and protected waters at Mary I Anchorage. The shoreline reveals scattered human presence in the form of isolated cabins and the small settlement of Ham on the western edge, reflecting the region's reliance on coastal access before the development of inland infrastructure.

Much of the land is preserved within the Tongass National Forest, dominated by the high peaks of Behm Mountain and Backbone Mountain. The intricate coastal geography is marked by numerous landmarks such as Customhouse Cove and Danger Passage, illustrating the complex waterways used by mariners and early settlers. This mid-century survey captures a wilderness at the height of its maritime importance, where land and water intersections like Pt Alava and Thorne Arm dictated the patterns of movement and life.