1835 Manuscript Map of the Kotzebue Sound in Northwest Arctic region of Alaska

This is a beautiful 1835 manuscript map depicting the anchorage of Chamisso Island and Kotzebue Sound in the Northwest Arctic region of Alaska. The map is centered on Chamisso Island and includes the southern part of the Choris Peninsula, including Point Garnet. The map notes numerous depth soundings throughout as well as detailed coastal features. According to the text below the border, this map is ‘from Beechy’s Voyage 1831’.

Chamisso Island and Puffin Island are part of the Chamisso Wilderness and are located off the Spafarief Bay at the mouth of Eschscholtz Bay in the Northwest Arctic Borough of Alaska. Frederick William Beechey was a British naval officer, explorer, artist and hydrographer who was tasked to explore the Bering Strait in 1825 and attempt to make contact with either the overland expedition of Franklin from the Mackenzie River or the naval expedition from Prince Regent Inlet under Parry. While he was unable to rendezvous with either Franklin or Parry, his three year long voyage led him to discover several islands in the Pacific. He published an account of this expedition in the Narrative of a voyage to the Pacific and Beering’s Strait. Puffin Island was named by him in 1826, and is described by him: ‘Detached from Chamisso there is a steep rock which by way of distinction we named Puffin Island.’