Downtown in Fairbanks in Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)
The Founding of Fairbanks
Alaska Gold Rush Centennial
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 27, 2010
1. The Founding of Fairbanks Marker
Captain E.T. Barnette, whose trading post on the Chena River became the city of Fairbanks, arrived here on the sternwheeler Lavelle Young with Captain Adams on August 26, 1901.
Felix Pedro and partners, mining for gold in the hills above town, saw the Lavelle Young on the river, some twenty miles away ferrying supplies. Once they struck gold, the future of the trading post was assured.
Fairbanks eventually won out over the City of Chena on the Tanana River when Judge Wickersham chose Fairbanks as the seat of the Third Judicial District Court.
Today this section along First Avenue contains three National Register Buildings and many of Fairbanks earliest buildings.
This sign s a product of a grant to the Chena Riverfront Commission, a commission of the City of Fairbanks, Fairbanks, North Star Borough, from the Alaska Gold Rush Centennial Task Force, Alaska Division of Tourism, Department of Commerce and Economic Development. Alaska Gold Rush Centennial
Erected by Alaska Gold Rush Centennial Task Force.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.
Location. 64° 50.634′ N, 147° 43.324′ W. Marker
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: Joe Crosson (here, next to this marker); Life Along the Chena River (a few steps from this marker); Aviation (within shouting distance of this marker); Fairbanks waterfront, c. 1910 (within shouting distance of this marker); Northern Commercial Company (within shouting distance of this marker); The Fairbanks-Valdez Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); The Early Gold Rush (within shouting distance of this marker); Alaska Highway/La route de l'Alaska Marker (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fairbanks.
Also see . . . E. T. Barnette - Wikipedia. (Submitted on September 19, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 17, 2024
2. The Founding of Fairbanks Marker
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 27, 2010
3. Former Masonic Temple
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 19, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 942 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on September 19, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 2. submitted on September 10, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. 3. submitted on September 19, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
