Downtown in Fairbanks in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)
The Fairbanks-Valdez Trail
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024
1. The Fairbanks-Valdez Trail Marker
Construction of an overland route from Valdez on Prince William Sound to Eagle on the Yukon River near the Canadian border started in 1899. Events in the Tanana Valley soon necessitated a trail from Fairbanks to Valdez. Between 1905 and 1906, the Board of Road Commissioners built 40 miles of improved road and cut 285 miles of new trails.
[Photo captions, top to bottom, read]
Above: A small crowd gathers to see the Gibson Auto Stage depart from its First Avenue location. At right, the Gibson timetable.
Left: Wood cutters cleared a trail north to Fairbanks from Valdez on Prince William Sound.
Below: Starting in 1905, the Orr stage company carried passengers and mail over the winter trail from Fairbanks to Valdez, a 376 mile trip. Travelers paid $125.00 each to Valdez, but $150.00 for the return trip.
Before it was improved, the Fairbanks-Valdez Trail was only five feet wide in places and could be traveled only by dog sled. Light sleds built for speed (as shown) carried passengers along the only winter route south from Fairbanks.
Interior of a typical roadhouse.
"All of the cooking, eating, sleeping, drying of clothes and shoes was done in one room. For ventilation there was a small aperture near the roof about four inches square, and this was supposed to furnish all the
this page online
-John Clark
Erected by Rotary Club of Fairbanks.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Rotary International series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.
Location. 64° 50.622′ N, 147° 43.338′ W. Marker is in Fairbanks, Alaska, in Fairbanks North Star Borough. It is in Downtown. It is on 1st Avenue east of Barnette Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Cushman Street, Fairbanks AK 99701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Alaska Railroad Corridor, in the Athabascan Region, and in Interior 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: Aviation (here, next to this marker); Fairbanks waterfront, c. 1910 (here, next to this marker); Northern Commercial Company (here, next to this marker); Joe Crosson (within shouting distance of this marker); The Founding of Fairbanks (within shouting distance of this marker); Life Along the Chena River (within shouting distance of this marker); The Early Gold Rush (within shouting distance of this marker); Fairbanks Area Rotary Projects "Service Above Self" (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairbanks.
Also see . . .
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024
2. The Fairbanks-Valdez Trail Marker
Cushman St Bridge in background
Credits. This page was last revised on September 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 256 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 11, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
