Map of Petersburg, Alaska by USGS, 1992 – Mitkof Island, Wrangell Strait & Frederick Sound

Published in 1992 by the U.S. Geological Survey, “Petersburg D-3 SW” presents a finely resolved portrait of one of Southeast Alaska’s most intricate coastal landscapes. As a provisional topographical map, it captures Petersburg and its surrounding island terrain at a moment of official geographic documentation, balancing practical survey precision with the quiet drama of Alaskan wilderness. At a scale of 1:25,000, the map allows close study of shorelines, elevations, waterways, roads, and trails, rendering the region with unusual intimacy. Petersburg itself, long associated with fishing and maritime life, appears not as an isolated town, but as part of a richly connected environment of channels, forest, mountains, and working waterfronts.

The U.S. Geological Survey gives this map its authority and character. Since the late nineteenth century, the USGS has been central to the systematic mapping of American landscapes, producing maps that supported exploration, settlement, resource management, conservation, engineering, and scientific study. In Alaska, where terrain and weather often complicate even basic travel, such mapping carried particular importance. “Petersburg D-3 SW” reflects that mission in its careful use of contour lines, hydrographic detail, place names, and transportation features. The result is not merely a navigational document, but a record of how federal cartography translated a remote and rugged environment into readable form for planners, mariners, foresters, scientists, and residents.

The map’s geography is dominated by water, with Petersburg positioned amid the protected passages and island-dotted channels of the Alexander Archipelago. Frederick Sound and Wrangell Strait frame the region’s maritime identity, linking local movement to the broader sea routes of Southeast Alaska. Tonka Bay, LeConte Bay, Point Moser, Rocky Pass, the Bay of Pillars, and Short Island all evoke the deeply indented coastline that makes this part of Alaska both beautiful and complex. Nearby Mitkof Island and Kupreanof Island underscore the fragmented character of the landscape, where communities, forests, fishing grounds, and tidal waters interlock. The Stikine River’s wider regional presence adds another layer of natural history, connecting coastal Alaska to vast inland systems.

The cartographic detail is especially compelling in the treatment of relief. Dense contour lines rise and fall across unnamed hills and elevations, revealing the muscular terrain that surrounds Petersburg. These lines are more than technical notation: they visually describe slopes, ridges, basins, and uplands, allowing the eye to sense the effort required to move through the landscape. Forested ground within and around the Tongass National Forest gives the map a distinctly Alaskan atmosphere, suggesting a region shaped by rainforest, mountain drainage, and saltwater access. Roads and trails appear sparingly against this immense natural setting, while streams, bays, and waterways provide the dominant connective tissue across the mapped area.

As a 1992 imprint, “Petersburg D-3 SW” also serves as a historical snapshot of environmental and human geography at the close of the twentieth century. It records the configuration of roads, settlement, shoreline access, named features, and surveyed elevations at a specific moment, before later development, ecological change, or revised mapping might alter the official picture. For collectors, its appeal lies in the union of precision and place: a rigorous USGS topographic sheet devoted to a small but culturally distinctive Alaskan city, surrounded by some of North America’s most dramatic coastal wilderness. It is a map of working waters, deep forests, rugged islands, and the measured beauty of terrain carefully observed.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Petersburg
• Frederick Sound
• Wrangell Strait
• Tonka Bay
• Tongass National Forest
• Mitkof Island
• Stikine River
• Kupreanof Island
• LeConte Bay
• Point Moser
• Rocky Pass
• Bay of Pillars
• Short Island
• Several unnamed hills and elevations indicated by contour lines
• Various roads, trails, and waterways connecting the region

Historical context & cartographic details

• Provisional topographical map providing a detailed view of the Petersburg area and its surroundings
• Created in 1992
• Produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
• The USGS is known for producing accurate and reliable geological and geographic data for land use, surveying, and environmental understanding
• Uses contour lines to show elevation changes and clarify the area’s topography
• Mapped at a detailed scale of 1:25,000
• Shows elevations and geographic features including mountains, forests, and water bodies
• The 1992 imprint serves as a historical reference for documented geographic, environmental, and developmental conditions at that time
• Detailed contouring highlights the varied mountainous terrain surrounding the region

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed 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.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every 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.

With 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 rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.