1960 Map of Valdez

About this map

Valdez sits at the head of Port Valdez, serving as a critical gateway to the Alaskan interior during this mid-century period. This map reveals the shifting footprint of the town, specifically identifying the location of Old Valdez alongside the established Fort Liscum on the southern shore. The transport network reflects the region’s reliance on the Richardson Highway and Glenn Highway for inland access, while the Copper River and Northwestern Railroad Grade remains a prominent feature of the industrial landscape, winding along the Chitina River and Copper River. Further north, Copper Center functions as a hub at the confluence of the Klutina River and Tazlina River, complete with its Copper Center Landing Area. The sheer scale of the glacial environment is evident in the massive Tazlina Glacier and Columbia Glacier, which define the drainage patterns of the Chugach National Forest and the surrounding high peaks of the Wrangell Mountains.