1953 Map of Valdez B-4

About this map

The Chugach Mountains dominate this 1953 landscape, where the Richardson Highway provides the primary corridor for movement through the high-elevation terrain. This survey captures a specific moment in the mid-century development of Alaska's interior road system, following the Tiekel River as it winds through deep valleys. Settlement is sparse and focused entirely on the road and river network, evidenced by the presence of Tiekel Cache and the small station at Tiekel. Steep topographical gradients define the area, rising sharply from the riverbanks to prominent peaks like Mt Tiekel and Rice Mtn. Numerous glacial-fed tributaries, including Stuart Creek, Hurtle Creek, and Boulder Creek, drain into the main river systems, illustrating the complex hydrology of this subarctic environment before further modern infrastructure expanded into these basins.