1952 Map of Skagway

About this map

The White Pass & Yukon Route railroad snakes through the mountains toward the Canadian border, anchoring the transport network of this 1950s reconnaissance. Skagway and Haines serve as the primary coastal gateways, connected by the deep waters of Chilkoot Inlet and Chilkat Inlet. Further inland, the map captures the transition from tidal waters to the massive ice fields of Glacier Bay National Monument, including the Muir Glacier and Grand Pacific Glacier. Settlement patterns are concentrated along the river valleys and highways, with Klukwan and Wells situated along the Chilkat River, while the Haines Highway provides a critical overland link. This era of mapping reflects a landscape defined by its glacial hydrology, where the Alsek River and Tatshenshini River carve through the St. Elias Mountains, and remote outposts like Pleasant Camp and Bear Camp mark the limits of the early road network.