Loading map...

1950 Map of Solomon D-4

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Solomon D-4
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Council sits as the central settlement in this remote Seward Peninsula landscape, positioned at a strategic bend where the Niukluk River meets Melsing Creek. The area’s gold-rush history is etched into the terrain, most notably by the Abandoned RR that formerly connected the interior camps to the coast. This network is supplemented by a series of specialized airstrips, including the Council Mine Landing Strip and Melsing Landing Strip, which speak to the mid-century reliance on bush aviation for supply and transport in roadless regions.

Transport through the frozen interior is meticulously documented via a system of Winter Trails and Tractor Trails that navigate around Mount Mordaunt and King Mountain. Numerous small mining camps and outposts like Pennant and Cabins appear along the tributaries of the Niukluk and Bear River, illustrating a landscape shaped by resource extraction and seasonal accessibility. The drainage patterns of creeks like Goldbottom Creek and Warm Creek further define the local topography, marking the routes used by prospectors and trappers alike.