Fairbanks in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)
Blueprints from the Past
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024
1. Blueprints from the Past Marker
The Lavelle Young was built in 1898. She was 140 ft. long, 32 ft. wide, and had a draft of 3 ft. She could travel at about 12 m.p.h. Her crew consisted of a captain, mate, engineer, purser, and steward. She could carry about 28 passengers in the staterooms. She does not appear to have had walking legs for lifting the sternwheeler off of sand bars but the cargo booms may have been adapted to function like walking legs.
For more information about Fairbanks history check out these great books:
Steamboats on the Chen, by Basil Hedricks and Susan Savage
Crooked Past, by Dermot Cole
Frontier Politics: Alaska's James Wickersham, by Evangeline Atwood
Old Yukon: Tales, Trails and Trials, by Honorable James Wickersham
[Illustration captions, top to bottom, then left, read]
OUTBOARD PROFILE
INBOARD PROFILE
SALOON DECK [AKA Salon Deck]
"Lavelle" Burtons off (off loads) 130 tons of Cargo on the Riverbank. (1901)
All drawings by Jack Kutz, 2001
Erected by Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.
Location. 64° 50.352′ N,
this page online
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); Sternwheeler Lavelle Young (a few steps from this marker); Fairbanks is Discovered (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); The Torgerson Shed (a few steps from this marker); Allen Cabin (a few steps from this marker); McRae Cabin
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024
2. Blueprints from the Past Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 148 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 16, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
