1955 Map of Prince Rupert D-2

About this map

Pearse Canal defines the international boundary between Alaska and British Columbia, cutting through a landscape of deep fjords and maritime passages during the mid-1950s. This survey, conducted as the Tongass National Forest was being mapped for commercial and navigation purposes, reveals the strategic importance of the United States-Canada border markers along the waterways. A solitary Cannery at the mouth of Hidden Inlet hints at the industrial fishing economy that drove settlement in this coastal wilderness. The complex geography of Fillmore Island and Wales Island is detailed with precision, showing the intricate network of channels like Edward Passage and Winter Inlet that provided shelter for vessels navigating the Portland Inlet. Numerous reference monuments along the shorelines serve as critical anchors for the border that bisects these tidal waters.