Sutton-Alpine in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

If You Build It, They Will Come

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 13, 2024

1. If You Build It, They Will Come Marker

Inscription.

If You Build It, They Will Come. . , The Glenn Highway is the main connection for the people of this valley. Can you imagine this place without it?, Nature's Highway , The Matanuska Glacier helped carve a wide path through the Chugach and Talkeetna mountain ranges. As the glacier receded, people naturally followed, establishing a connection between communities in Alaska's interior and the coast. In the late nineteenth century, the highly contagious gold fever caused a rush of people to Alaska. In response, the U.S. Government sent teams to investigate routes to the gold fields. Under the leadership of Captain Edwin Glenn, Lieutenant Joseph Castner explored a rough trail through the Matanuska River valley in 1898., Laying the Tracks , Castner's report promoted the Matanuska Valley as a pack trail and also boasted of its coal deposits. The U.S. Navy wanted to use Matanuska Valley coal, but lacked an efficient way to transport it until a railroad reached Chickaloon in 1917. The railroad bed and pack trails provided the main connections for local residents until 1941. With World War Il looming, it was suddenly imperative to connect the military bases in Anchorage to the rest of the United States and this valley provided the corridor., Bringing You Here , Dynamite and jackhammers tore through the landscape starting in June 1941. During the next four years, workers built a road on the remnants of the old pack trail and railroad. A base camp sprouted in Sutton and up to 600 men worked round-the-clock shifts during the peak of construction. It was rough and bumpy at first, but the newly built Glenn Highway carved through the landscape much like the glacier once had. This new man-made path opened the valley to miners, new types of businesses, homesteaders, and travelers like you., [Photo captions, top to bottom, read] , . King River Station, Matanuska Valley, Feb. 12, 1917, . Leila Lake Camp, 1944, Glenn Highway, . Glenn Highway near King Mountain along the Matanuska River shortly after the road was opened to the public., . Joseph C. Castner, 1898 [&] Background-Looking up Matanuska River Valley from Glacier Point, 1898

The Glenn Highway is the main connection for the people of this valley. Can you imagine this place without it?

Nature's Highway
The Matanuska Glacier helped carve a wide path through the Chugach and Talkeetna mountain ranges. As the glacier receded, people naturally followed, establishing a connection between communities in Alaska's interior and the coast. In the late nineteenth century, the highly contagious gold fever caused a rush of people to Alaska. In response, the U.S. Government sent teams to investigate routes to the gold fields. Under the leadership of Captain Edwin Glenn, Lieutenant Joseph Castner explored a rough trail through the Matanuska River valley in 1898.

Laying the Tracks
Castner's report promoted the Matanuska Valley as a pack trail and also boasted of its coal deposits. The U.S. Navy wanted to use Matanuska Valley coal, but lacked an efficient way to transport it until a railroad reached Chickaloon in 1917. The railroad bed and pack trails provided the main connections for local residents until 1941. With World War Il looming, it was suddenly imperative to connect the military bases

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in Anchorage to the rest of the United States and this valley provided the corridor.

Bringing You Here
Dynamite and jackhammers tore through the landscape starting in June 1941. During the next four years, workers built a road on the remnants of the old pack trail and railroad. A base camp sprouted in Sutton and up to 600 men worked round-the-clock shifts during the peak of construction. It was rough and bumpy at first, but the newly built Glenn Highway carved through the landscape much like the glacier once had. This new man-made path opened the valley to miners, new types of businesses, homesteaders, and travelers like you.

[Photo captions, top to bottom, read]
• King River Station, Matanuska Valley, Feb. 12, 1917

• Leila Lake Camp, 1944, Glenn Highway

• Glenn Highway near King Mountain along the Matanuska River shortly after the road was opened to the public.

• Joseph C. Castner, 1898 [&] Background-Looking up Matanuska River Valley from Glacier Point, 1898

Erected by Alpine Historical Society, Alaska State Parks, National Scenic Byways, Mat-Su Borough, and Others.

Topics. This historical marker

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 13, 2024

2. If You Build It, They Will Come Marker

is listed in these topic lists: Immigration • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1941.

Location. 61° 42.597′ N, 148° 52.494′ W. Marker is in Sutton-Alpine, Alaska, in Matanuska-Susitna Borough. It is on Glenn Highway (State Highway 1 at milepost 61.6) east of Chickaloon Way, on the left when traveling east. Marker is in Alpine Historical Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 11266 Chickaloon Way, Sutton AK 99674, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Alaska Railroad Corridor,

in the Athabascan Region,

in the Mat-Su Valley,

and in Southcentral Alaska.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: There's Coal in Them There Hills (here, next to this marker); Ingredients for Success (here, next to this marker); Nay'dini'aa Na'

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(here, next to this marker); Ray Roberts / Phil O'Neill House (a few steps from this marker); Shovel Arm (a few steps from this marker); Walt Myar Memorial Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Living Network (within shouting distance of this marker); Hitchcock Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sutton-Alpine.

Also see . . . Alpine Historical Park. (Submitted on August 25, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 309 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 25, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.