1951 Map of Taku River B-5

About this map

The international border between British Columbia and the City and Borough of Juneau cuts through this high-elevation wilderness in the early 1950s. The landscape is defined by massive ice fields and the movement of the Wright Glacier and Speel Glacier. This survey, based on 1948 aerial photography, shows the drainage of Speel River as it winds through the Tongass National Forest. Prominent peaks like Mount Ogden, Mt Fremont Morse, and Mt Brundage mark the rugged boundary line between the United States and Canada. Small water bodies such as Speel Lake and Hidden Creek are nestled in the valleys, illustrating the complex hydrology of this roadless region before modern development. The map serves as a primary record of glacial extent and alpine topography at the mid-century mark.