{"product_id":"old-map-of-cooper-landing-alaska-by-usgs-1959-kenai-lake-kenai-river-chugach-national-forest","title":"Old Map of Cooper Landing, Alaska by USGS, 1959 – Kenai Lake, Kenai River \u0026 Chugach National Forest","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished in 1959 from survey data of the same year, the US Geological Survey’s “Seward” presents a richly detailed portrait of south-central Alaska at a moment when modern topographic mapping was essential to exploration, infrastructure, and land management. Centered on the dramatic country around Cooper Landing, the map extends across a landscape of glacial valleys, mountain ridges, forested lowlands, and intricate waterways. Its 1:250,000 scale offers both breadth and precision, balancing regional overview with meaningful terrain detail. Browns rise through the high country in carefully drawn contours, while greens emphasize lower valleys and wooded corridors, creating an immediate sense of Alaska’s rugged relief and ecological variety.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe US Geological Survey brought to this map the disciplined clarity for which its twentieth-century cartography is celebrated. Founded in the aftermath of America’s great western surveys, the USGS became the authoritative mapper of the nation’s terrain, and Alaska demanded some of its most demanding work. In this sheet, the careful contouring, hydrographic detail, and measured labeling reveal a landscape that was still remote, formidable, and only partially integrated into modern transportation networks. The result is not merely a navigational document, but a record of governmental ambition: to understand, classify, and render legible the mountains, rivers, passes, and settlements of one of North America’s most challenging environments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCooper Landing appears amid a remarkable convergence of waterways and mountain corridors, with Kenai Lake, the Upper Kenai River, the Lower Kenai River, and the Russian River forming a vivid hydrological framework. This region is now closely associated with fishing, rafting, hiking, and scenic travel, but on the map it reads first as terrain: steep slopes, narrow valleys, lake basins, and river courses shaped by glacial action. Nearby Skilak Lake and Crescent Lake add to the sense of a watery alpine landscape, while smaller names such as Screwdriver Creek, Pretty Creek, Cave Creek, and McNeil Canyon lend texture to the mapped wilderness. The sheet captures both grandeur and locality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe map also records the vital transportation routes that helped connect isolated communities and natural resources across the Kenai Peninsula and adjoining regions. The Sterling Highway and Seward Highway thread through difficult terrain, linking places such as Moose Pass, Cooper Landing, and Seward City while negotiating rivers, lakes, and mountain barriers. Around Seward, Resurrection Bay opens toward the Gulf of Alaska, with Bear Lake and Bear Creek marking the inland approach to the port. Farther north and east, Snow River, Portage Lake, and Prince William Sound situate the area within a broader coastal and glacial geography. The map conveys how roads, towns, and waterways were interdependent in Alaska’s mid-century development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond its practical value, “Seward” is an evocative historical artifact of a landscape on the cusp of changing priorities. In 1959—the year Alaska became a state—accurate maps were indispensable for navigation, construction, resource assessment, forestry, and recreation. Chugach National Forest occupies a significant place in this mapped world, emphasizing the federal presence in managing and preserving vast public lands. Peaks such as Mount Kenai and Twin Peaks stand out within a terrain of ridges and basins, reminding the viewer how vertical and dynamic this region is. Today, the map invites comparison with later conservation efforts, tourism growth, and evolving land use, while preserving a precise mid-century vision of Alaska’s majestic southern coast and interior approaches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCooper Landing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKenai Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eResurrection River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSkilak Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRussian River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKenai River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChugach National Forest\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUpper Kenai River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLower Kenai River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScrewdriver Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrescent Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePretty Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMoose Pass\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTrail River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMount Kenai\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwin Peaks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBear Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSterling Highway\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeward Highway\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSnow River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePortage Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eResurrection Bay\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrince William Sound\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSeward City\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBear Lake\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMcNeil Canyon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCave Creek\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the US Geological Survey as a historical 1:250,000 topographical map of Cooper Landing, Alaska and the surrounding area.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReflects survey data from 1959 and carries a 1959 imprint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublished by the US Geological Survey, known for detailed and accurate cartographic work focused on the United States and its territories.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses color shading to show elevation changes, with browns representing higher terrain and greens indicating lower valleys and forested areas.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures clear contour lines that enhance the topographic representation of the landscape.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShows varied Alaskan landforms, including mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, and waterways.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRepresents a period when detailed topographic surveys were important for navigation, development, and understanding remote terrain.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOffers historical insight into land use and environmental preservation changes in the region since 1959.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 18x24in (45x60cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139116724615,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139116757383,"sku":null,"price":105.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":68139116790151,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":68139116822919,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":68139116855687,"sku":null,"price":105.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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