1951 Map of Yakutat

About this map

The coastal village of Yakutat serves as the primary outpost in this 1951 provisional survey, situated on the edge of the expansive Yakutat Bay. The landscape is dominated by the massive Malaspina Glacier to the northwest and the towering Saint Elias Mountains along the Canadian border. This map captures a post-war moment in the region's geography, showing the Military Airport near the settlement and the wild, unpeopled reaches of the Tongass National Forest. Inland, the complex drainage systems of the Alsek River and Dangerous River carve through glacial sediment toward the Gulf of Alaska. The presence of numerous named peaks like Mt Aylesworth and Mt Armour along the international boundary reflects the era's focus on defining the rugged Alaskan frontier. Significant water bodies such as Russell Fiord and Harlequin Lake highlight the dynamic nature of this glacial coastline before more modern mapping was completed.