The back of this cribbage board reveals a detailed map of the Yukon River as it reaches from the Alaskan coast deep into the interior of the state. The map extends around the edges to the front, where an image of the hands of an artist, perhaps the maker of this board, engrave a walrus tusk with images of Arctic wildlife. During the late 19th century, an unprecedented number of non-Native explorers, whalers, tourists, and gold prospectors arrived in Alaska. Many of these outsiders sought to purchase artworks, so ivory carvers utilized their skills to create items for sale such as pipes, tableware, walking stick handles, and cribbage boards. Though the game cribbage did not originate in Alaska, boards were wildly popular items for purchase among the new clientele.