1961 Map of Skagway A-8

About this map

Alsek Glacier and Grand Plateau Glacier dominate this 1:63,360 scale survey of the Alaskan coast. This topographic study reflects the work of the U.S. Geological Survey using photogrammetric methods from aerial photographs taken in 1948 and 1954, then field-annotated in 1961. The map is defined by its dramatic ice-bound landscape, where the shifting topography is noted by numerous crevasses across the glacial bodies. While the terrain remains largely unmarked by human infrastructure, the map serves as a critical baseline for glaciologists and researchers tracking the historical extent of ice fields in the mid-twentieth century. The absence of roads or trails highlights the isolation of this corner of Alaska before more modern surveying and mapping methods were applied.