1951 Map of Sitka D-3

About this map

Chatham Strait divides this coastal landscape during the mid-twentieth century, separating the eastern shores of Chichagof Island from the rugged coastline of Admiralty Island. The map documents a maritime-focused environment where inland water bodies like Lake Kathleen and Lake Florence sit just miles from the salt water. Evidence of early industrial activity appears at Gypsum (Aband) near Iyoukeen Cove, marking the site of a former mining operation that once utilized the deep-water access of the Iyoukeen Peninsula. Numerous inlets and points, such as Freshwater Bay and Tenakee Inlet, define the complex shoreline. The transition from active resource extraction to the established boundaries of the City and Borough of Sitka reflects the shifting administrative and economic character of Southeast Alaska during this era.