1949 Map of Petersburg A-5

About this map

Prince of Wales Island and Kosciusko Island dominate this coastal survey, where a complex network of waterways defines the human and natural geography. Small settlements like Calder, Shakan, and Holbrook are tucked along protected inlets and bays, illustrating the maritime reliance of early mid-century Southeast Alaskan life. The terrain is dramatically vertical, rising from the Shakan Strait and Davidson Inlet to heights like Mount Calder and the uniquely named peaks of The Nipples. Inland, the landscape is dotted with bodies of water such as Shipley Lake and El Capitan Lake. The presence of a Light Station near Shakan indicates the importance of these passages for navigation. Much of this territory is managed as part of the Tongass National Forest, showing a landscape defined by its timber resources and maritime trade routes before modern development significantly altered the region's character.