1954 Map of McGrath D-6

About this map

McGrath and its surroundings in the mid-1950s are defined by the intricate meanders of the Kuskokwim River and the Takotna River. This interior Alaskan landscape shows a transition between aviation-dependent settlements and resource extraction, with the Takotna Airstrip and Candle Airstrip providing vital links to the remote interior. The map records the shift in human geography near the confluence of the rivers, specifically the transition from Old McGrath (Aband) to the primary townsite. Mining activity is noted at the Candle Placer mine within the Roundabout Hills, where Candle Creek and its tributaries carve through the terrain. Downstream along the Kuskokwim, the map details the complex river morphology around Harrell Island and Wilson Lake, alongside a small cemetery and various remote cabins that speak to the subsistence and prospecting history of the Yukon-Koyukuk region.