Fairbanks in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

Sternwheeler Lavelle Young

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024

1. Sternwheeler Lavelle Young Marker

Inscription.
Sternwheelers were the main transportation for the Interior in the early 1900's. The difficult terrain and lack of roads made the rivers a useful and efficient means of travel. The Tanana and Yukon Rivers naturally spread out in many places and maximum depths in these areas could be as little as a few feet. The sternwheeler's ability to move through shallow water made these vessels ideal for river travel. The Lavelle Young pictured in the photo above is the sternwheeler that brought E. T. Barnette to the interior in the fall of 1901 where he started a trading post named Fairbanks.

Erected by Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 64° 50.356′ N, 147° 46.28′ W. Marker is in Fairbanks, Alaska, in Fairbanks North Star Borough. It can be reached from Airport Way. Marker and Wheelhouse are in Pioneer Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2300 Airport Way, 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: The Impossible Journey (here, next to this marker); Blueprints from the Past (a

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few steps from this marker); Fairbanks is Discovered (a few steps from this marker); The Torgerson Shed (a few steps from this marker); Cabin (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Cabin (a few steps from this marker); McRae Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker); Allen Cabin (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairbanks.

Also see . . . Pioneer Park. (Submitted on September 15, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Sternwheeler Lavelle Young Wheelhouse and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024

2. Sternwheeler Lavelle Young Wheelhouse and Marker

Sternwheeler Lavelle Young Wheelhouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024

3. Sternwheeler Lavelle Young Wheelhouse

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024

4. Sternwheeler Lavelle Young Wheelhouse

Credits. This page was last revised on May 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 290 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 15, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.