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Illustrating The Expedition of Andrei Glazunov (1833-34)

This map presents a highly detailed depiction of Russian America, focusing on the southwest portion of present-day Alaska. Published in the January issue of Nouvelles Annales des Voyages, the map is a French adaptation of a rare Russian cartographic work, tracing its origins to Baron Ferdinand von Wrangel’s account of his tenure as head of the Russian-American Company (1829–1835). The map is copied from the map published in 1839 in Beiträge zur Kenntniss des russischen Reiches, a multi-volume geographical work compiled by Karl Ernst von Baer and Grigory von Helmersen.

The map illustrates the remarkable inland travels of Andrei Glazunov, an Alaskan Creole who led an expedition sponsored by the Russian-American Company to explore the interior of Russian Alaska. The map covers a vast region extending from Kodiak Island and the Aleutian Peninsula in the south to Anchorage and beyond, reaching nearly to the Bering Strait. It provides exceptional detail on settlements, forts, indigenous villages, river systems, and geographic features. Many of these locations, including Russian outposts and native settlements, appeared here for the first time on a printed map, preceding English, French, and American surveys by decades. 

The Russian Empire expanded its colonial presence in Alaska through the Russian-American Company, which managed trade and governance in the region. Wrangel, an experienced explorer and naval officer, had previously led significant Arctic expeditions and conducted extensive geographic and ethnographic research. His tenure in Alaska was instrumental in strengthening Russian claims, mapping the territory, and documenting indigenous cultures.

Andrei Glazunov and the 1833–34 Expedition: A Landmark in Alaskan Exploration

The early 19th century marked a period of intensified Russian exploration in Alaska, driven by both scientific curiosity and the economic imperatives of the Russian-American Company. Under the leadership of Baron Ferdinand von Wrangel, who governed Russian America from 1830 to 1835, efforts were made to expand inland knowledge beyond the coastal regions previously charted by European navigators such as Captain Cook and George Vancouver. It was in this context that Andrei Glazunov, a Russian Creole explorer, was chosen to lead an ambitious overland journey from the newly established Mikhaylovskiy Redoubt (later St. Michael) to the interior of southwestern Alaska in the winter of 1833–34. This expedition, despite failing to reach its ultimate objective, stands as one of the great accomplishments in the history of Alaskan exploration.

Prior to Wrangel’s tenure, the Russian-American Company had prioritized the coastal fur trade over scientific exploration. However, Ensign Vasiliev’s 1829 discovery of the Kuskokwim River underscored the potential for inland expansion, both for commercial purposes and territorial consolidation. To facilitate further exploration, Wrangel ordered the construction of a post on St. Michael Island, which was completed under the supervision of Lieutenant Michael Tebenkov. This location provided the Russians with a strategic foothold near the mouth of the Yukon River and served as a launching point for inland expeditions.

Among the individuals chosen to carry out these inland missions was Andrei Glazunov, a native-born Creole of Russian and indigenous descent. While little is known about his early life, he was likely trained in basic navigation at Sitka and had prior experience in exploration. His familiarity with Alaska’s interior conditions and ability to communicate with indigenous groups made him a valuable asset to Russian expansion efforts.

On December 20, 1833, Glazunov and his party departed from Mikhaylovskiy Redoubt with the goal of traversing Alaska’s vast, largely uncharted interior. The expedition proceeded to the headwaters of the Anvik River, descended that stream to its junction with the Yukon, and then traveled overland to the Kuskokwim River near present-day Little Russian Mission. Glazunov's plan was to follow the Kuskokwim River upstream to the Stony River junction, then ascend the Stony River to its headwaters before crossing a pass into the Cook Inlet drainage.

However, the harsh winter conditions and the difficulty of securing food supplies forced the expedition to turn back near the Lime Hills, short of its intended goal. After enduring extreme hardships, Glazunov and his men returned to Mikhaylovskiy Redoubt in May 1834, having traveled approximately 2,240 kilometers in 104 days. Despite the failure to complete the intended route, the expedition represented a major feat of endurance and contributed invaluable geographic and ethnographic data on the Yukon and Kuskokwim River regions. 

Glazunov's journey was one of the first extended overland expeditions into the Alaskan interior for which a written account exists. Wrangel, recognizing the significance of the journey, drew heavily on Glazunov’s journal—though it was never published in full—to expand Russian knowledge of the region’s geography and indigenous peoples. The information gathered during this expedition helped inform subsequent Russian efforts to establish trade and settlement in the interior.

Following his 1833–34 expedition, Glazunov continued to play a role in Russian explorations. In 1835, he led another journey to the Anvik River, searching for a suitable location to establish a permanent Russian settlement. Although he initially favored Anvik, the post was ultimately founded at Ikogmiut (later known as Russian Mission) in 1836. However, this settlement met a tragic fate when it was destroyed by indigenous groups in the wake of the devastating smallpox epidemic of 1838–39.

Glazunov was mentioned again by the explorer Lavrenty Zagoskin, who recorded that he explored the Yukon Delta under Lieutenant Rosenberg in 1832 and later conducted another significant journey in 1837, crossing from the headwaters of the Unalakleet River to the Yukon. These later endeavors further cemented Glazunov’s legacy as one of the key figures in Russian exploration of Alaska. 

The expedition led by Andrei Glazunov remains a landmark in the exploration of Alaska’s interior. While Russian navigators had established control over the coastal fur trade, it was Glazunov and a handful of other Russian Creole explorers who ventured into the vast and treacherous inland territories. His journey contributed to the expansion of Russian geographical knowledge, strengthened claims over the Yukon and Kuskokwim regions, and provided critical insights into indigenous settlements and trade routes.