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1959 Map of McCarthy B-5

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of McCarthy B-5
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1992
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1992

About this map

The high-alpine mining landscape of the Wrangell Mountains is captured in this late-1950s survey, documenting the industrial remains and seasonal settlements of the region. Green Butte Mine and the Nikolai Mine stand as significant markers of the copper and gold fever that drove development in this remote interior. Evidence of complex logistics is found in the Aerial Tram and Tramway installations near National Creek, which were essential for moving ore across the steep terrain of Bonanza Ridge.

In the lowlands, the braiding channels of the Nizina River and Chitistone River dominate the valley floor, where the May Creek Landing Strip provided a vital link to the outside world. To the southeast, the geography of resource extraction is visible through the Dredge Tailings near Chititu Camp. The map also delineates the extensive Wrangell-St Elias Wilderness Boundary, marking the intersection of commercial history and federal land conservation efforts.