Anchorage Air View 1
USDA Soil Conservation Service
Anchorage, Alaska
Image shows an oblique view of Anchorage looking west from above the Pine Street intersection with the Glenn Highway.
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage Air View 2
USDA Soil Conservation Service
Anchorage, Alaska
Image shows an oblique view of Anchorage looking west from above 3rd Avenue at about the intersection with Reeve Boulevard.
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage Air View 3
Unknown
Air view of Anchorage, Alaska
Image is an aerial view of Anchorage, Alaska taken from above Cook Inlet looking east over the Ship Creek valley and the city to snow-clad Chugach Mountains beyond. The photo appears to have been take sometime between 1953 and 1964.
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage-Spenard Canal 007
Alaska Road Commission
A completed canal excavated between Spenard Lake and Lake Hood to provide a takeoff lane and taxiway for floatplanes.
This low oblique air view shows the canal excavated between Lake Hood and Spenard Lake, seen looking east with Chugach Mountains faintly visible in background.
Anchorage, Alaska
Bridge-Knik 049
Alaska Road Commission
The Knik River bridge construction camp is quiet on a still winter day.
Image is an oblique air winter view of several tent structures scattered among trees of a mixed forest with snow-covered ground and white smoke rising from several chimneys.
Near Palmer, Alaska
Colony Farms 1
Hewitts Photo Shop
Air view of colony farms as forest clearing begins
Image is an oblique aerial view of six Colony farmsteads in 1936 showing the buildings constructed to date, progress being made in clearing the dense forest in which they are located and land beginning to be tilled.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Community Center 13
Hewitts Photo Shop
An easterly view from the water tower shows some temporary buildings of the Palmer community center and homestead clearings in the trees beyond.
Image is an easterly view from the water tower showing some of the temporary buildings of the Palmer community center, the end of the rail spur, and homestead clearings beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Community Center 14
Hewitts Photo Shop
View from the Palmer water tower looking south over buildings of the community center and homestead clearings beyond.
Image is a southerly view from the water tower with the powerhouse smokestack in foreground, several buildings in middle ground and the future Chugach Street clearing through homestead fields and trees in background.
Palmer, Alaska
Community Center 39
Unknown
This aerial oblique view shows what the Co-op and surrounding area looked like in the early 1960's.
This is a high oblique aerial view of the Palmer Community Center Co-op complex and surrounding area seen from the northwest. The Co-op "Skater Girl" logo is visible on the water tower and the peaked roof om the school addition is not yet in place. Both the grain elevator and the silo are in place.
Palmer, Alaska
Community Center 40
Unknown
The image shows many of the Community Center buildings constructed by the fall of 1936.
This low oblique shows the new Trading Post in foreground, the school with construction scaffold still in place, the Dorm and Hospital beyond. The faded mountains in background exhibit a definite snow line indicating this is probably an early fall image.
Palmer, Alaska
Experiment Farm 17
Hewitt's Photo Shop
Experiment Farm
Image is a high oblique west oriented overview of the Matanuska Experiment Farm and surrounding landscape. Land clearing patterns are obvious. Several small independent farmsteads are visible in small forest clearings. Lakes and roads are visible.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Glacier 1
Hewitts Photo Shop
Low oblique air view looking northwest from over Lake George at the Knik Glacier butted up against the mountain at left.
Image is low oblique view of a mountainside on the left with Knik Glacier on the right butted up against the mountain. In foreground is Lake George with ice bergs floating in it. Upper left is the glacier protruding down Knik River valley.
Knik River Valley, Alaska
Glacier 2
Nick Nichols
This photo shows the condition of the glacier as it appeared in 1935 or 1936.
This low oblique air photo looks east up the Knik Glacier from its terminus to the mountains beyond. Its major medial moraine is evident as is considerable calved ice captured behind an old terminal moraine at the glacier's face. Considerable snow remains on the surrounding mountains.
Knik Glacier in Chugach Mountains near Palmer, Alaska
Glacier 3
Howard Doster
This oblique air view shows the lower portion of the Matanuska Glacier as it appeared about 1945.
This oblique air image shows the Matanuska Glacier from its face in right foreground to the point where it curves right behind a mountain in the upper center. A small portion of the outwash plane is visible at the glacier face in the lower right. Rugged, partly snow-covered mountains rise in background and at right. Lateral moraines are clearly visible in the ice. A large portion at the lower left of the image is dark mud and gravel, some of which covers ice below.
Upper Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Glacier 6
Hewitt's Photo Shop
This air view documents the state of the lower portion of the Knik Glacier in 1937
This aerial oblique view shows the lower portion of the Knik Glacier in foreground and middle ground and most of the calving face of the glacier in foreground. Dark mountains rise on both sides of the ice and a well-defined medial moraine is evident near the center of the glacier along its length. In background mountain peaks form the skyline with glacier ice flowing down from them to join the main glacier below. Immediate foreground exhibits a lake at the glacier face with several icebergs apparently floating in it.
Knik River Valley, Alaska
Lake George 3
Hewitts Photo Shop
A late summer aerial oblique view showing part of the face of Knik Glacier at left, the "Terminal Moraine" indicating the extent of past glacier movement to the right which blocked drainage of water in the valley beyond to form "Lake George". By late summer the lake would erode the ice and violently empty, flooding Kinik River below.
Image is an aerial oblique view of Knik Glacier's terminal moraine marking the extent of seasonal advance of Knik Glacier seen at left. For many years, when the glacier was more active, it would advance to the mountain at right, damming outflow of melt water in the valley beyond and creating "Lake George". By late summer the lake would fill and erode a channel past the ice and then violently empty, flooding the Knik River below.
Knik Glacier near Palmer, Alaska
Lake George outlet 1
Nick Nichols
Lake George waters escape through the gorge it has cut at the edge of Knik Glacier.
Image is a low oblique view of water running through the gorge between Knik Glacier (left) and Mt. Palmer (right) as it empties Lake George into the Knik River.
Knik River Valey, Chugach Mountains, Alaska
Matanuska Valley Air View 1
Johnston
Aerial oblique view across the farm land south of Palmer, across the Matanuska River & up the Knik River valley
Image is a low oblique aerial view across farm land of the “Springer System” south of Palmer in the foreground, across the Matanuska River in middle ground, and up the Knik River valley to the Knik Glacier. The Bodenburg Butte is visible at right. Farms and forest clearing patterns, stump rows and roads are apparent.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Matanuska Valley Air View 2
Johnston
Aerial oblique view across farm land southwest of Palmer, including Matanuska and the Matanuska Experiment Farm, across the Matanuska River to the mountains beyond
Image is an easterly low oblique aerial view across farm land southwest of Palmer, including Matanuska and the Matanuska Experiment Farm, across the Matanuska River to the mountains beyond. Bodenburg Butte is visible. Farms and forest clearing patterns, stump rows and roads are apparent.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Matanuska Valley Air View 3
Robinson
Aerial oblique view across farm land south of Palmer, including the City of Palmer, the Matanuska River and the Talkeetna Mountains in background.
Image is a northerly low oblique aerial view across farm land south of Palmer, including the City of Palmer and the Matanuska River to the Talkeetna Mountains beyond. Farms and forest clearing patterns, crop patterns and roads are apparent.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Matanuska Valley Air View 5
T.H. Day, USDA Soil Conservation Service
Matanuska Valley
Image is an oblique aerial view looking northwest across the Matanuska Valley with the braided channel of Matanuska River in foreground. The City of Palmer, Palmer Airport, and surrounding farms are evident beyond the river. Land clearing patterns are apparent. Talkeetna Mountains are in background.
Palmer, Alaska
Matanuska Valley Air View 6
Hewitts Photo Shop
Primary focus of the image is the numerous farms carved out of the heavy forest and the road system that connects them.
This low oblique fall image shows some of the farms carved out of the heavy forest south of Palmer and part of the Springer System roads that connect those farms. The Matanuska River crosses the photo in the middle ground with snow-clad mountains beyond.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
Palmer Air View 1
Johnston
Air View of Palmer
Image is an aerial oblique looking northwest across the city of Palmer, including farms, fields, forest, roads and Talkeetna Mountains in background. The State Fair is apparently open as many parked cars and people are visible at the fairgrounds.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 10
Unknown
Color northerly aerial view of east Palmer to the Matanuska River
Image is a color aerial oblique view looking north across the east part of Palmer showing buildings, roads and farm land to the Matanuska River in background.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 11
Unknown
Northwesterly aerial view of Palmer and surrounding farm lands and forest
Image is an aerial oblique view looking northwesterly across the Community Center of Palmer showing buildings, roads and surrounding farm land and forest.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 12
Jackson
Northerly aerial view of Palmer and surrounding farm lands, forest and the Matanuska River
Image is an aerial oblique view looking northerly across Palmer showing buildings, roads and surrounding farm land, forest and Matanuska River.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 13
Unknown
Northerly aerial view of the Matanuska Colony “Tent City” at Palmer and surrounding farm lands, forest, Matanuska River and Talkeetna Mountains
Image is an aerial oblique view looking northerly across the Matanuska Colony “Tent City” at Palmer showing buildings, tents, roads, surrounding farm land, forest, Matanuska River and Talkeetna Mountains in background.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 14
Unknown
Aerial view of Palmer in the 1940’s
Image is a high oblique summer view of Palmer, Alaska looking northeast across the town to the Matanuska River and the base of Lazy Mountain. Local homesteads and other clearings within heavy forest are apparent as are roads, streets and community buildings.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 15
Hewitts Photo Shop
Aerial view of Palmer in the summer of 1935 with many of the colonist’s tents still present
Image is a high oblique view of Palmer in the summer of 1935 when it was often called “Tent City” because of all the tents in place housing the Colonists and others associated with the Matanuska Colony project. The numbers in evidence on the photo identify: #3-Trading Post; #4-Isolation Hospital; #5-General & Maternity Hospital; #6-Manager Don Irwin’s Residence. Homesteader John Bugge’s fields are in the lower right and other homestead clearings within the heavy forest are apparent.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 16
Hewitt's Photo Shop
Aerial view of Palmer, August 1935
Image is a black & white high oblique view including much of John Bugge’s homestead, the “Tent City” of Palmer, patches of cleared land and uncut forest. The “Wasilla road” is apparent to Bugge’s hill.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 17
Unknown
Aerial oblique view looking south over Palmer showing the city and surrounding area
Image is an oblique aerial summer view from above the Matanuska River looking south over Palmer and the surrounding area to the Matanuska River and the Chugach Mountains beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 18
Unknown
Aerial oblique view looking northwest over Palmer showing part of the city and surrounding area
Image is an oblique aerial summer view looking northwest showing the Experiment Station research buildings in foreground, community center buildings, some of the Palmer commercial district and farm clearings beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 19
Jim Balog
High oblique summer view of Palmer and the surrounding area
Image is a color summer aerial oblique view of Palmer and the surrounding area, including farm clearings, a portion of Matanuska River and north up the Matanuska River valley to Talkeetna Mountains in the background.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 2
Robinson
Air View of Palmer
Image is an aerial oblique looking northwest across the city of Palmer, including farms, fields, forest, roads and Talkeetna Mountains in background. Buildings and the Valley Fairgrounds are evident.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 20
Hewitts Photo Shop
A high oblique air view of Palmer taken in August, 1936 showing the the community center, commercial district and closely surrounding homesteads.
Image is a high oblique air view of Palmer in August 1936. The community center, west side commercial district and closely surrounding homesteads are shown.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 21
Hewitts Photo Shop
This vertical areal view of the commercial district of Palmer shows conditions as they appeared at a point about 1936.
This is a vertical aerial view of the commercial district of Palmer on the west side of the railroad tracks as it appeared about 1936. The street running from left to right near the bottom is currently named Colony Way and it intersects with Evergreen Ave. and the Palmer-Wasilla Highway running to the top of the picture. The photographer notated the photo upside down.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 22
Irvin Plitt
This air view shows the location of the proposed Palmer Drugstore building at the extreme right in front of the existing Kosloosky's store and the hotel.
This low oblique air view of Palmer, taken in early spring of 1949, looks west from over a portion of the community center and shows buildings and roads and conditions of a portion of the town at that time.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 23
Irvin Plitt
This air view shows the buildings, streets and conditions of the central area of Palmer, Alaska in spring of 1949.
This air view shows the Co-op complex and the Community Center quad in the lower portion of the photo. The fairgrounds are visible in upper left and the commercial district west of the railroad tracks is apparent at upper right. Site of the future Palmer Drugstore is partially visible at extreme right.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 24
Irvin Plitt
This air view shows the buildings, streets and conditions of the central area of Palmer, Alaska in spring of 1949.
This air photo is a northerly view across the Palmer community showing the railroad tracks and parallel street running from lower right to upper left. The fairgrounds are apparent at center right of the tracks with the Community Center and Co-op complex above. The Ketchikan Spruce Mills lumber yard is visible at lower left of the tracks with the business district above. Extensive scattered patches of snow are evident.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 25
Hewitts Photo Shop
This air view of Palmer's initial development shows the start of a new city in the context of surrounding homestead activity that came before.
This high oblique view shows the beginning of the town of Palmer resulting from arrival of the Matanuska Colony. Numerous white tents initially housing the Colonists are visible at lower left with the warehouse, administration structures and equipment are in the center of the image. The railroad tracks with standing rail cars cuts a straight line diagonally across the image from lower left to upper right. A rail spur curves off to the left where construction is seen beginning on community buildings. John Bugge's homestead is partially visible at lower right and clearings of other nearby homesteads are evident. A large patch of spruce trees occupies the lower center section and the upper third of the image is covered with thick spruce forest. This is the same image as Palmer Air View 15 but is a better exposure and without the feature identifications in the Nichols photo.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 3
Robinson
Air View of Palmer
Image is an aerial oblique looking west across the city of Palmer, including farms, fields, forest, roads and west end of Talkeetna Mountains in background. Buildings and roads are evident.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 4
Associated Press
Aerial view of Palmer's "Tent City"
Image is a southerly oblique aerial view showing a cluster of tents at the Palmer townsite adjacent to the railroad line with patches of forest and fields in the foreground. Dense forest and the Matanuska River are in middle ground and snow-clad mountains are beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 5
Unknown
Aerial view of Palmer
Image is an east-facing aerial oblique of Palmer and surrounding area including John Bugge’s homestead, the Palmer airport, Matanuska River and mountains beyond, including Lazy Mountain.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 6
Jack B. Anderson
Color aerial oblique view across Palmer and Matanuska River to Knik Glacier and mountains.
Image is an oblique southeasterly summer view across Palmer and the Matanuska River to Knik Glacier and snow-clad mountains beyond.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 7
Arville Schaleben
Oblique aerial view of Palmer “Tent City”
Image is of a photo printed in the September 15th, 1935 issue of the Milwaukee Journal showing a northwesterly oblique view over the “Tent City” buildings, railroad and roads of the Matanuska Colony center of operation at Palmer. Heavy forest is prominent around homestead clearings in middle ground and cultivated land in foreground.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 8
T.H. Day, USDA Soil Conservation Service
Matanuska Valley
Image is an oblique aerial view looking northwest across the Matanuska Valley with the City of Palmer in foreground. The fairgrounds and surrounding farms are evident. The Glenn Highway passing through Palmer, and the Palmer-Wasilla Road are evident. Land clearing patterns are apparent. Talkeetna Mountains are in background.
Palmer, Alaska
Palmer Air View 9
Unknown
Color southerly aerial view of Palmer and the Springer System to the Matanuska River and Bodenburg Butte beyond
Image is a color aerial oblique view looking south across part of Palmer to the Springer System farm land, the Matanuska River and Bodenburg Butte.
Palmer, Alaska
View From The Butte
Associated Press Photo
South View From Bodenburg Butte
Image is an oblique view from Bodenburg Butte looking south over several Colony farmsteads. Barns & houses are visible and newly cleared fields are obvious within the remaining forest. Stump rows are evident within the fields, roads are apparent in foreground. The Knik River is visible in background.
Matanuska Valley, Alaska
