1958 Map of Talkeetna D-2

About this map

Ruth Glacier dominates this landscape, carving a massive path southward through the Alaska Range as it appeared during the late 1950s. The topographic detail, mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey in collaboration with The Museum of Science, Boston, captures the dramatic verticality of The Great Gorge and the surrounding high peaks. Notable summits such as Mount Huntington, Mount Dickey, and the distinctive granite spire of The Mooses Tooth frame the Ruth Amphitheater. The drainage patterns are clearly defined, showing the confluence of the West Fork Ruth Glacier and the adjacent Tokositna Glacier. To the east, Buckskin Glacier flows parallel, separated by high ridges including The Rooster Comb. This survey provides a precise record of glacial extent and alpine topography before the era of modern satellite monitoring.