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1955 Map of Ketchikan B-3

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Ketchikan B-3
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Behm Canal dominates this mid-century topographic study, serving as the primary maritime thoroughfare through the Ketchikan Gateway Borough. The landscape is characterized by deep glacial fjords and intricate waterways, where Smeaton Bay branches into the narrow reaches of Wilson Arm and Bakewell Arm. These tidal waters are flanked by the steep, timbered slopes of Revillagigedo Island and the mainland, entirely contained within the Tongass National Forest.

Evidence of seasonal or remote habitation appears via scattered Cabins near Checats Cove and Edith Point. The freshwater systems are equally complex, with the tiered Upper Checats Lake and Lower Checats Lake draining toward the coast. Navigation points like Entrance Island and Shoalwater Pass highlight the maritime nature of the region before modern infrastructure, relying on points like Point Nelson and Harding Point for orientation in the complex archipelago.