Original hand-drawn pen and ink/watercolor story map of Alaska’s Inside Passage, home to the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimashian indigenous peoples. Located in the most northwest point of North America and bordering Canada, Alaska is the largest state in the United States covering a total 665,400 square miles. While Alaska is extreme and expansive in every form, the Inside Passage of Alaska lives up to the same degree of diversity and grandeur in landscape and wildlife in just a 500 mile long ship route carved out by glaciers leaving over 1,000 islands including bays, coves, and fjords. Alaska’s Inside Passage extends from southeast Alaska, along British Columbia until barely reaching Washington. The ship route is used for fishing, shipping, and tourism with around 2 million visitors visiting the state by cruise ship each year.
This map showcases the first stops of a ship or cruise route when reaching the southeast end of Alaska beginning in the southernmost major city of the passage, Ketchikan, Alaska, known as the Salmon Capital of the World. Not only can visitors immerse themselves in the fishing community and culture while in Ketchikan, they can also learn of the indigenous communities and culture of the area by visiting the Saxman Totem Park specific to the Tlingit people. Continuing north for 241 miles around islands and fjords, specifically the mesmerizing Tracy Arm fjord, ships will arrive in the capital, Juneau, Alaska which is uniquely only accessible by boat or plane. Further north on the route from Juneau, passing through the Lynn Canal, one can enjoy the site of Mendenhall Glacier before arriving at the northernmost point and the end point of the route, Skagway, Alaska. Skagway is a town heavily influenced by the Yukon, gold-rush era in which people went to parts of Canada and Alaska in search of gold. Remnants of this era remain in Skagway such as the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad which visitors can ride to experience the stunning views along the Chilkoot Trail. On the return path back, ships may pass along other major cities within the passage such as: Pelican, known for world class salmon fishing, and Sitka, known for its rich Tlingit culture in which one can visit the totem poles at Sitka National Park as well as observe the influence of Russian culture and heritage on the community in its architecture.
Other spectacular features and landscapes included on the map that one might not see on the ship route include: Misty Fjords National Monument near Ketchikan, Mount John Jay, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve just southwest of Skagway, Tongass National Forest as well as stunning views of the mountains throughout the Wrangell - St. Elias Mountains as well as the major mountain range, the Coast Mountains.
While the views of mountains, fjords and glaciers attracts millions of visitor each year, this map also showcases the diverse wildlife unique to this Alaskan coast that add to any adventurers experience including: whales, seals, Grizzly bears, mountain goats, wolves, moose, bald eagles, and more.
The lithograph print by Chris Robitaille of Xplorer Maps is 18” wide by 24” tall.
Are you looking for a custom matted and framed piece? Pick from Montana hand-scraped pine or reclaimed Flathead Lake larch. In addition, you can choose between green or blue mats.
* The framed map is for retail purchase only. Xplorer Maps does not offer wholesale pricing on framed maps.
Montana's Flathead Lake larch Frame - 10%of the larch logs originally intended as railroad ties for the Great Northern Railroad sunk to the bottom of Flathead Lake, MT. These over 100-year-old logs have been dive-located, dredged, dried, cured, planed, scraped, sawn, sanded, and shaped into reclaimed heritage wood frames exclusively for Xplorer Maps.
Hand-Scraped Montana Pine - Montana forest-harvested pine frame. For that rustic look, each frame is hand-scraped.
All frames are equipped with conservation clear glass, which is guaranteed to block 99% of ultraviolet rays. Upgrade to Museum glass, which ensures 99% UV protection but also provides ZERO GLARE - this is the quality glass you would find in gallery settings.
