Fairbanks, Alaska & Beyond

An epic Journey into the frozen northern landscape in search of history and adventure in the  heart of "The Last Frontier"  . . . 

This Website Contains Affiliate Links

This adventure took place in the last week of April. I was warned ahead of time of the cold climate, and told to dress warm. While it certainly can dip down cool at times, I found the weather to be very pleasant with daily highs near 70 degrees fahrenheit. This may not always be the case, so it is probably a good idea to strategically layer. This time of year the dusk seemed to last up to around 10:30 at night, but the Northern Lights failed to make an appearance in the night sky over town. 

A Look at Fairbanks Town Center

Fairbanks is a pretty interesting town, and a great place to base yourself for an exciting expedition throughout the 49th state. Around the city center there are great restaurants and souvenir shops, as well as outfitters just in case you do need get better equipped for the potentially frigid weather. 

Historic Downtown Fairbanks

Search hard enough and you might just find the Gateway to Downtown Fairbanks which is also known as "Antler Arch". This interesting work of art can be found near the banks the Chena River. It is composed of over 100 moose and caribou antlers from nearby Alaskan villages. Another nearby point of historic interest is the town's marker of Alaska Railroad's End of the Main Line. This is actually the northern most railroad operated in North America which origin dates back to around 1903. 

​There is also no shortage of photogenic statues scattered around representing cultural heritage, leaders of expedition, and foreign relations of wartime endeavors as well. 

Monuments and Memorials

One you don't want to pass up is the Lend-Lease Memorial. Proposed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. This World War II program would ship military supplies and equipment to Allied Forces across the Bering Strait from Alaska to Siberia.

Another is a monument that honors Walter Harper, who in 1913 was the first to climb the summit of Mt McKinley. This massive peak is not only the largest peak Denali National Park but in all of North America as well. ​

---

Museums

​Various museums can be found all over Fairbanks. A large amount of local history can be found on display at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Much of it goes into depth telling how the settlement of Fairbanks was founded in the first decade of the 1900s and continued to grow throughout the area's gold rush days. There is also an added emphasis on the local culture inspired by the indigenous people who originally called these lands home. 

Cultural Center Exhibits

Across town at the Museum of the North you will have the opportunity to view everything from displays of local wildlife and fossils to gold rush artifacts as well as an example of indigenous clothing from the Western and Arctic regions of Alaska. Here you can even catch a variety of educational films on topics from the physics behind the Aurora Borealis to the geology of Alaska's National Parks. 

Museum of the North

Located south of that massive museum is the even more expansive Pioneer Park. This place has the ability to draw the visitor back in time to experience how life was back in the earlier days of expedition. This open air Gold Rush Town museum includes a variety of other exhibits within. There are restored historic residences, examples of shops, and even an old saloon. There is also a replica of a Native Alaskan village, as well as an aviation museum with an old propellor plane proudly on display. ​

Pioneer Park

There is a Tanana Valley Railroad Museum here too. You will even be able to grab a view of the SS Nenana, which was a sternwheeler that was launched in 1933 to carry passengers and cargo along the Yukon and Tanana rivers. That service lasted until 1957. In 1965 it was parked here and granted the title of museum ship. 

While this place does an amazing job of explaining the settling and development of the area, many of the features are only open from May to September
​... so I just missed it. 

If you are looking for another leisurely activity, check out the Fairbanks Ice Museum located in the center of downtown. This place contains a fantastic array of interesting ice sculptures to entertain your imagination as well as an ice slide to thrill your more adventurous side. If you are lucky, you may even have the chance to view the sculptor at work crafting his fascinating ice creatures.

Ice Museum

There are many more museums scattered around including an antique car museum. Be sure to check for their days and hours of operation so you can plan your visit accordingly.

​Outside of Town

No visit to Fairbanks would be complete without a visit to the Alyeska Pipeline located just a few mile north of downtown. This education experience takes you into the innerworkings of how oil is transported vat distances across the Alaskan landscape. 

Here you will have the chance to see inside a pipeline and catch a view of a device called a Pig that cleans the walls and helps to move the oil on its way. Not only will see the inside of this thing, but you'll also learn of the numbers of workers required to construct it and the amount of road and animal crossings along the way. 

There is actually way more to see throughout this area, so check back soon as I have more Alaska adventures to come. 

Don't forget to Like & Subscribe!
And feel free to leave a comment down below.