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1953 Map of Valdez B-4

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Valdez B-4
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The Chugach Mountains dominate this 1953 landscape, where the Tiekel River carves a deep path through high peaks such as Mt Tiekel and Rice Mtn. Human presence is concentrated along the Richardson Highway, which follows the river valley and serves as the primary artery for travel. Small outposts like Tiekel and the Tiekel Cache provide evidence of the scattered roadside infrastructure necessary for navigating this interior corridor during the mid-twentieth century.

In the northeast, the Tonsina River and its tributary, the Little Tonsina River, define the drainages near a mapped Gravel Pit and isolated Cabin sites. This survey illustrates the intricate network of alpine waterways including Boulder Creek, Quartz Creek, and Slate Creek that feed the major river systems. The map captures a moment when the Richardson Highway was a vital lifeline connecting the coast to the Alaskan interior, showing the specific waypoints and terrain that challenged early motorists and surveyors alike.