Pike's Landing in College in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

Reindeer & Caribou

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 18, 2024

1. Reindeer & Caribou Marker

Inscription.
Are they the same?
Reindeer and caribou look different, but they probably are the same species. Caribou are large, wild. elk-like animals which can be found above the tree-line in arctic North America. Because they can live on lichens in the winter, they are very well adapted for the harsh arctic tundra where they migrate great distances each year. Caribou cows and bulls both grow distinctive antlers and bull antlers can reach 4 feet in width! A caribou calf can run within 90 minutes of its birth. It must do this to keep up with the migrating herds.

Reindeer are slightly smaller and were domesticated in northern Eurasia about 2000 years ago. Today, they are herded by many Arctic peoples. Reindeer were introduced into Alaska and Canada during the last century, but most attempts failed. Native peoples still prefer to hunt caribou rather than herd reindeer. Reindeer and caribou have unique hairs which trap air providing them with excellent insulation. These hairs also help keep them buoyant in the water. They are very strong swimmers and can move across wide rushing rivers and even the frozen ice of the Arctic Ocean!

Migration
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Patterns
Some populations of the North American caribou migrate the furthest of any terrestrial mammal, travelling up to 5,000 km (3,100 mi) a year, and covering 1,000,000 km² (390,000 sq mi). Other populations have a shorter migration and some are residents that only make local movements.

Normally travelling about 19-55 km (12-34 mi) a day while migrating, the caribou can run at speeds of 60-80 km/h (37-50 mph). During the spring migration smaller herds will group together to form larger herds of 50,000 to 500,000 animals but during autumn migrations, the groups become smaller, and the reindeer begin to mate. During the winter, reindeer travel to forested areas to forage under the snow. By spring, groups leave their winter grounds to go to the calving grounds. A reindeer can swim easily and quickly, normally at 6.5 km/h (4.0 mph) but if necessary at 10 km/h (6.2 mph), and migrating herds will not hesitate to swim across a large lake or broad river.

North Pole, Alaska
When Con and Nellie Miller arrived in Fairbanks, Alaska in 1949, they had $1.40 in cash and two hungry kids. Determined to carve out a living in the new territory

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 18, 2024

2. Reindeer & Caribou Marker

of Alaska, Con soon became a merchant and fur buyer in the surrounding villages. Wearing an old red Santa suit each Christmas, Con gained celebrity status as Santa Claus in the eyes of the village children — the first St. Nick many had ever seen. By 1952, the Millers had decided to build a trading post thirteen miles southeast of Fairbanks, in an area newly dubbed "North Pole." One day, while hard at work on the new store, a young Alaskan boy recognized Con and asked, "Hello, Santa Claus! Are you building a new house?" Inspiration clicked...the newly constructed house became a store known as the "Santa Claus House", which is also home to several reindeer. The Original Letter from Santa (which are made by the "Santa Claude [sic] House" and delivered with a North Pole postmark) have been a Christmas tradition since 1952. Nearly two million letters have been mailed to children across the globe, to nearly every country in the world from North Pole, AK.

Erected by Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment • Indigenous Peoples and Communities

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• Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 2000.

Location. 64° 50.025′ N, 147° 50.746′ W. Marker is in College, Alaska, in Fairbanks North Star Borough. It is in Pike's Landing. It can be reached from Pikes Landing Road. Marker is along the walking trail on the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4477 Pikes Landing Road, Fairbanks AK 99709, 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: Pipeline (a few steps from this marker); Bear Cache & Alaskan Cabins (within shouting distance of this marker); Alaska vs the "Lower 48" (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Fairbanks (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Historic Fairbanks (about 300 feet away); Sluice Box (about 400 feet away); Felix, Joy, & Dandy Pedro (about 500 feet away); William Salmon & August Conradt (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in College.

Also see . . . Santa Claus House, North Pole, Alaska. (Submitted on September 24, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 185 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 24, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.