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1955 Map of Prince Rupert D-4

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Prince Rupert D-4
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Duke Island dominates this mid-century maritime survey, situated within the southern reaches of the Tongass National Forest. The landscape is defined by its intricate shoreline of protected inlets and anchorages, such as Ray Anchorage and Morse Cove, which provided vital shelter for vessels navigating the Revillagigedo Channel. The terrain rises to Duke Hill and extends south to the prominent Cape Northumberland, a critical navigational landmark at the southern tip of the island group.

The map reveals a complex archipelago of smaller landforms including Kelp Island and the Sister Islands. Detailed hydrography, compiled from late-1950s charts, captures the soundings and reef structures of the surrounding waters, including Pond Bay and the isolated Yellow Rocks. This 1955 field-annotated study serves as a precise record of the remote coastal geography before the expansion of modern navigational aids, highlighting the natural harbors that once supported the region's maritime activity.