Tom and Carole arrived in Fairbanks today.  Their trip was good.  The dogs did well, too.

June 25, 2008

Jack, Jeannie, Tom, Carole, Richard and I went to the Pioneer Park in Fairbanks.  It is a tourist attraction build in 1967 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the purchase of Alaska from Russia.  It was originally called Pioneer Park, but later was changed to Alaskaland.  In 2001, since a lot of tourist were expecting an attraction along the lines of Disneyland, the name was once again changed to Pioneer Park.

Whatever it is called, it is an enjoyable park for the young and the not so young.  There is a beautiful,  antique carousel, a couple of museums including one about aviation, a sternwheeler, a village of buildings from Fairbanks’ beginning in the early 1900’s, and one about the Alaska Railway.  On display is a railcar in which Warren G. Harding, 29th President of the United States, rode through Alaska to drive the golden spike at the completion of the Alaskan Railway.

I really enjoyed going through the village made up of log cabins and other buildings moved from various places in Fairbanks.  Most were constructed in the early 1900’s and have a history associated with the gold rush which took place in the Interior of Alaska in 1902.  The original pioneer log cabins tell the story of those who made their fortune post stampede.  Each building has the date it was constucted, where it was moved from, who lived there, and what part they played in the beginning days of Fairbanks.  

During the evening, they offer a Salmon Bake which is a huge outdoor, all-you-can-eat buffet with salmon, cod, halibut, salads, dessert.  We ate there, but first we went for a ride on a sternwheeler.  Run by third and fourth generations of the Binkley famiy, it is a 3.5 hour tour down the Chena River.  The banks are close on both sides and people who live along the river are part of the tour.  There is a bush pilot who takes off on a float plane, lands again on the water, and then pulls up beside the paddleboat and tells us a little about himself and the plane. 

Susan Butcher’s homestead is also along the shore.  She rose to fame as the second woman to win the famed Iditarod Trail Sled Race.  She went on to win 3 more times.  When I was in Fairbanks a few years ago, Susan came out to the bank and talked to us through a headset about her dogs and her experience as a musher.  She then hooked up a team to an ATV and we watched the dogs run pulling her along. 

This time, her husband did the demonstration.  42-year old Susan Butcher died August 5, 2006 from cancer.  I was so impressed with Susan and her accomplishments, I was heartbroken to learn about her passing. 

The river flowed into the Tanana (pronounced tan-an-all) River.  There the boat stopped at an Athabascan Indian Village.  We  learned about the lives of the Alaskan Indians and some of the traditions of the different tribes. (Aleut, Alutiiq Eskimos, etc).  A lady named Dixie Alexander makes clothing out of skins and beading and has one on display at the Smithsonian in Washington.  One of the guides modeled a parka with a sunburst hood.  The picture is a little blurry because the woman behind me also wanted an picture and couldn’t wait until I got mine, but no matter, you can at least get the idea.

This was a great day.  I had a wonderful time.  Interesting activities, beautiful scenery, and great friends.  It doesn’t get much better than this.

Until later, Dolores and Richard