1952 Map of Seward D-3

About this map

Esther Island and its surrounding glacial waterways dominate this mid-century coastal survey within the Chugach National Forest. The transition of human activity in this maritime landscape is marked by the settlement at Golden (Aban'd) on Port Wells, contrasted with functional aids to navigation like the Esther Island Light and the CAA Radio Range Sta on the Dutch Group islands. The complex shoreline is carved by deep inlets such as Derickson Bay and Eaglek Bay, where massive ice flows like the Crescent Glacier and Eaglek Glacier meet the sea. Inland, the interior of the island is defined by the significant Esther Lake, which drains via Lake Bay into the surrounding sounds. This map provides a detailed view of the sound’s hydrography and topography before significant modern changes, documenting the location of remote cabins and family-named landmarks like Bald Head Chris I.