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

Annus Mirabilis

Nineteen Eighty Four

— Proud to be ALASKAN —

Annus Mirabilis Marker image. Click for full size.

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

1. Annus Mirabilis Marker

Inscription.
It was not a year
Just like other years;
Somehow 'Eighty-Four was special,
As if the hand of God
Had briefly brushed the place
And sparked a miracle.
It was a year to remember: the Bridge of Flags to lift the spirit; all those honored on Statehood Founders' Day; the Alaska Commemorative Stamp presentation by Postmaster-General Bolger; the Founders of Statehood silver medallion investiture by the Governor; the campus dedication of Constitution Place; the statewide historic simulcast featuring our First Governor, William Egan; the public Reception, attended by more than 3,000 and the once-in-a-lifetime Statehood Dinner; premier performances of "A Christmas Liturgy" and "1984 Overture"; completion of the historical manuscript, "Interior Alaska: A Journey Through Time"; the great global crossroad gathering to greet Pope John Paul II and President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan; the unique and spectacular multi-ethnic fashion show, All Alaskan; religious heritage week with its "Faith in the Valley" evening of song; Golden Days; The Alaska History Test for junior high school students created by Dr. Sam McConkey and the E.E.N.T.

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Clinic; "The 1984 Fairbanks Historical Calendar" sponsored by the United Way of Tanana Valley and the Mt. McKinley Bank; the International Curling Bonspeil; the 1984 Indian-Eskimo Olympics; the Alaska State Fair featuring the Silver Anniversary of Statehood theme; the Fairbanks-North Pole-University of Alaska Winter Carnivals; the "Welcome Banners” project for Airport Way designed by students of some thirty local schools; the Elks District Convention and their Commemorative flag pole project marking the Fairbanks original Townsite and the landing area of the great Riverboats; the Yukon Quest and North American Sled-Dog Races; the World Cup Ski Races; the National Amateur Ice Hockey Championships; Transportation History Week at Alaskaland; the Festival Harvest of Arts in Regents Great Hall; this "Unknown First Family” sculpture project; and much, much more.

'Eighty-four was a year to remember, a year of wonders, truly, our Annus Mirabilis. A very special "thank you” to all of the thousands who gave of themselves, their time, talent, and treasure, to make it happen.

Festival Fairbanks '84 [Board Members]

Unknown First Family

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

2. Annus Mirabilis "Unknown First Family" Marker
are these
That seem to see
Beyond the winds?

What brought them here
—weary, alert, unafraid—
To choose this spot
Beside a frozen river,
Saying "Our place is here!"?

Unknown family.. Family unknown.

Yonder, back there somewhere,
Hidden in the mists of time,
The lands and ways they now forget.
From there,
Beyond the distant sea to here,
Alone they broke the trail,
Where none had been before.
The Great North Trail.

First family... Unknown family.
Theirs the spirit to be first,
First to settle here.
No trail ahead,
Only the endless taiga,
The tundra, the muskeg,
Wilderness...
Awesome beauty filled with promise...
Unexplored, unpeopled, alien.

The long, long trek is done.
They have found the place
Where they will stay.
Rugged, stalwart,
Loyal lookouts posted,
They stand as one
Together. Unknown First Family.

Did some Great Spirit
Lead them here?
Or merely need for food and shelter?
Ov chance, perhaps?

Ordinary folk.
From nowhere to nowhere?
Commonplace their rootstock
Implanted here,
Or so some say.
Yet sinew and stamina superb
And that rare spirit to be first.

Lest we forget.
Out of the seedbed
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024

3. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker
of the common
— the uncommon.
Other than the hand of God
What source to shape
And fire the common clay?

William Ransom Wood
30 November, 1983
Fairbanks, Alaska

Proud to be ALASKAN
This sculpture came from the people. It is their statue. The idea of an outdoor monument to serve as a community focal point was conceived by the National Association of Women in Construction, Fairbanks Chapter, in 1982. Later, more than 2,000 families and scores of businesses, organizations, schools, and churches, contributed over $300,000 to salute the "Unknown First Family" and pay tribute to the role of families in the development of Interior Alaska. It is these Alaskans who made this commemorative historic project possible.

[Marker panels alphabetically listing Interior Alaskan
families as well as businesses/civic organizations, schools,
churches, and institutions]

Erected 1984 by Festival Fairbanks '84.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. A significant historical year for this entry is 1984.

Location. 64° 50.657′ N, 147° 43.176′ W. Marker is in Fairbanks, Alaska, in Fairbanks North Star Borough.

Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker image. Click for full size.

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

4. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

It is in Downtown. It is on 1st Avenue east of Cushman Street, on the left when traveling east. Markers are on Golden Heart Plaza, surrounding the "Unknown First Family" sculpture and fountain. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 516 1st Avenue, 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: Dr. William Ranson Wood (here, next to this marker); Pioneers of Alaska Igloo No. 4 and Auxiliary No. 8 (here, next to this marker); The Trans Alaska Pipeline: An Epic Construction Effort (here, next to this marker); Greater Fairbanks Community Hospital Foundation (here, next to this marker); History of North Slope Oil Development (here, next to this marker); Construction Affecting

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

5. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

Fairbanks (here, next to this marker); A History of Interior Alaska's Transportation (here, next to this marker); Fairbanks (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairbanks.

Annus Mirabilis Interior Businesses Marker image. Click for full size.

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

6. Annus Mirabilis Interior Businesses Marker

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

7. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

8. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

9. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

Annus Mirabilis Interior Civic Organizations Marker image. Click for full size.

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

10. Annus Mirabilis Interior Civic Organizations Marker

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

11. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

12. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

13. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

Annus Mirabilis Interior Schools, Churches, & Institutions Marker image. Click for full size.

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

14. Annus Mirabilis Interior Schools, Churches, & Institutions Marker

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

15. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

16. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

17. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

18. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

19. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

20. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

21. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

22. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

23. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

Annus Mirabilis Interior Families and Organizations Marker image. Click for full size.

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

24. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families and Organizations Marker

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

25. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

Annus Mirabilis Interior Families, Clubs, Businesses Marker image. Click for full size.

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

26. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families, Clubs, Businesses Marker

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

27. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

Annus Mirabilis Interior Families, Churches, Clubs, Businesses Marker image. Click for full size.

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

28. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families, Churches, Clubs, Businesses Marker

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

29. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

30. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

31. Annus Mirabilis [Interior] Families, Clubs, Businesses Marker

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

32. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

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

33. Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker

"Unknown First Family" Statue and Fountain image. Click for full size.

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

34. "Unknown First Family" Statue and Fountain

Annus Mirabilis markers surround fountain and are found throughout Golden Heart Plaza

"Unknown First Family" Statue image. Click for full size.

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

35. "Unknown First Family" Statue

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

36. "Unknown First Family" Statue

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

37. "Unknown First Family" Statue

Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 20, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 461 times since then and 88 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 20, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 2. submitted on September 22, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. submitted on September 20, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37. submitted on September 21, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Photo of Annus Mirabilis Interior Families Marker 58 • Can you help?