1960 Map of Nabesna

About this map

Nabesna Village and Northway Indian Village anchor the human geography of this interior Alaskan landscape, which spans the intersection of the Mentasta Mountains and the Wrangell Mountains. The map documents a period when regional travel relied on a mix of the Alaska Highway, the Glenn Highway, and a network of tractor trails and winter trails that connected remote outposts. Significant cultural landmarks like Duffy's Tavern, Seaton Roadhouse, and the Border City Trading Post appear alongside the vast Tetlin Indian Reservation, illustrating the era's frontier commerce and traditional lands. From the heights of Nabesna Mountain to the braided waters of the Nabesna River and Chisana River, the survey captures a topography defined by immense glaciers and high-altitude passes, including Mentasta Pass and Cooper Pass, which dictated the routes of early mid-century explorers and residents.