Explore Alaska! A Natural and Cultural History: Module VI

No matter where you are, we're glad you're here!

Essential Questions

President Harding's Trip to Alaska - Driving
Golden Spike at Tanana Bridge, Alaska
Railroad, 1923 VILDA ASL-P418-13

Alaska's infrastructure of transportation and communication systems - what is the cause-effect relationships to settlement patterns and to the development of the Alaska economy?
What have been the impacts on traditional Native cultures and on the environment?
What are issues facing Alaskans today to transportation and communication?

ENGAGE

Roads, Rails, Riches

Tanana River Bridge, Nenana
(note riverboats below bridge)
1923 VILDA AMRC-b64-1-449

Consider the challenges of building roads and railroads in Alaska. Climate and local weather conditions, dramatic topography, soil conditions, easements, government regulations, financing, shipment of materials, labor force recruitment, post-construction maintenance - all of these would seem to conspire against even the most optimistic builder and banker.

Yet, in spite of all these obstacles, by the early 1900's several small railroads connected mines to tidewater or rivers. The first major railroad project was the White Pass and Yukon Railway, completed in 1898.

Copper River and Northwestern Railroad-
at Cordova Dock with Concentrates from
Kennecott Copper Mine, VILDA-AMRC-b62-1-212

The next major railroad, the Copper River and Northwestern Railway, was built to connect the copper mines at Kennecott in the Wrangell Mountains to the shipping port at Cordova.

Copper River Bridge 27A, Copper River
and NW Railroad ca. 1918
VILDA-AMRC-b62-1-1472

Crossroads and Connections
Are you detecting connections between economic development and transportation?

Look for those connections again when you read about the Alaska Railroad, completed in 1923. And also look for connections between road/railroad development and the establishment of communities. What is the why of Anchorage?

Evolution of Roads

Fairbanks-Valdez Stage at Tonsina Roadhouse
ca.1911 - VILDA UAF-1989-166-111

Road building in Alaska began slowly, with migrants to Alaska preferring to initially settle along coastlines and rivers. When traveling off the water systems, they used long established Native trade trails. Gradually horse trails and then rough wagon roads followed these trails, many being built with federal monies (Alaska Road Commission) and local labor.

First Truck - Dawson Creek to Fairbanks.
Soldiers Summit,Alaska Highway Completion,
Nov. 20, 1942 VILDA UAF-1969-95-687

Some of the early roads were laid out based on recommendations made by those who conducted the military expeditions of the late 1800's which you read about in Module V.

Parallel to the improvement of trails and development of roads was the evolution of a network of roadhouses as crucial stopping places for changing of teams of dogs or horses, getting supplies, staying overnight, and as a refuge from the weather.

Paxson Roadhouse and Depot 1923

AK RR Tour Lantern Slides

VILDA ASL-P198-58

The history and stories of these roadhouses are part of the nice to know of Alaska. Several still exist, and more exist only in the memory of old timers who recall the valuable role they played in the days before improved, maintained roads.

As more cars and trucks were shipped to Alaska, there was a greater demand for improved roads.

The greatest impetus for road building came with World War II and the need to have an overland connection to the Lower 48. This American-Canadian project which utilized both military and civilian labor still stands as one of the greatest road building achievements ever.

Grading the Ice Road, Four Corners to Bettles
"Hickel Highway" 1970, VILDA AMRC-b90-14-3-7998

Today the same obstacles to road and railroad construction and maintenance still exist. The State Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is responsible for state highways, bridges, runways, harbors. Local governments maintain local roads and some harbors, and some federal funds are used for maintenance of roads.

Alaska Railroad alaska-in-pictures.com

In 1985 the Alaska Railroad moved from federal to state ownership and now operates as independent state agency as the Alaska Railroad Corporation. The White Pass and Yukon Railroad no longer hauls ore from mines in Yukon Territory to the port of Skagway, but does operated seasonally for tourist excursions.

EXAMINE

Gateway to Mt.McKinley Natl. Park
ca. 1930's VILDA ASL-P44-05-002

Identify the three major railroads in Alaska history - where? when? why? ownership?current status?
Identify 10 major roads in Alaska - where? when? why? current status?
What are current issues related to road/railroad transportation in Alaska?

EXPLORE
Pay particular attention to the maps and photos on this page. Take time to examine each.

From the Alaska History course please read:

Overland Routes Develop

From Alaska's Heritage:

Chapter 4-10 Road Transportation

Chapter 4-11 4-11 Railroad Transportation

Click on Maps to Enlarge

Major Roads in AK
fairbanks-alaska.com

AK RR route alaskarailroad.com

Alaska Road Map - Project Jukebox
jukebox.uaf.edu

Major Roads in Alaska
ykalaska.wordpress.com

EXTEND

Here are additional sites that add detail to the study of roads and railroads in Alaska.

White Pass and Yukon Railroad

Alaska Railroad

Alaska Highway Project Jukebox (A study of the impact of the AK Highway on AK and the Yukon since the 1940's)

AK Dept. of Transportation/Public Facilities

Consider these questions:

As you examine the maps again, consider the location of the roads and railroads in Alaska today. Where is the focus of the infrastructure? Why is there not a more extensive infrastructure of roads and rails? What does this mean for the people and the economy of Alaska?

Alaska has the only state capital in the U.S. which is not connected to a road system. Since statehood, advocates of moving the capital to Southcentral Alaska have used this fact to promote their position. Does the fact that Juneau is accessible only by air or the AK Marine Highway System affect the governance of Alaska? If so, in what ways?

What/why are the rail/road connections in the area of Alaska where you live?

What's Next?

By now you know how hard it can be to fit all the images you like into your blog narrative. That's why we've saved some of the best for last.

Take a few minutes to explore these images saved for the bottom of the page before flying off to Aviation.

Click on Images to Enlarge