This 1942 Motor Blower is a General Electric
motor and Ingersoll Rand fan. It was used as a
forced air blower for a large coal-fired furnace
at Premier Mine on Moose Creek near Sutton. — — Map (db m254952) HM
The boiler on the left, built by Pennsylvania Boiler Works of
Erie, Pennsylvania, is stationary. The one on the right was built
by the Kewnee Company in Illinois and it could be either
stationary or portable. Water was fed in from the top to . . . — — Map (db m255014) HM
This shovel, which shows a lot of innovation for its age, was made
as a part of the World War II effort in Findlay, Ohio and was a very
versatile shovel used at Premier Mine along Moose Creek. The
shovel arm was chain driven. It has 3 power . . . — — Map (db m255103) HM
In 1899 the U.S. Army documented the coal findings at Chickaloon and in 1916 the area was set aside by the United
States Secretary of the Interior as a designated coal-mining area. A town sprang up, the town of Chickaloon, peopled with
miners, . . . — — Map (db m254982) HM
In 1899 the U.S. Army documented coal along the Chickaloon River and in 1916 the area was set aside by the United States
Secretary of the Interior as a designated coal-mining area. The town of Chickaloon sprang up peopled with miners, . . . — — Map (db m255018) HM
The mountains across the Matanuska River are part of the Chugach
Mountain Range. The Chugach Mountains extend in an arc for roughly
350 miles, bordering Cook Inlet near Anchorage, Prince William Sound and
on toward Icy Bay where they meld with . . . — — Map (db m254977) HM
The machinery in front of you is the circulating fan used for tunnel
and shaft mining at the Evan Jones Mine. The mine was located at
Wishbone Hill and accessed by Jonesville Road in Sutton. This giant
fan was necessary for underground mining . . . — — Map (db m254931) HM
McNalley Pittsburg built this three plunger, jig-type coal washer
for the Eska Coal Mine in 1941 and shipped it to the mine in pieces.
At the site workers reassembled the washer, covered it with a wood
framed, metal covered building about 75' . . . — — Map (db m254900) HM
After going through the washing process, coal was conveyed by a belt
to the coal dryer. This dryer, a Carpenter Coal Dryer [by McNally Pittsburg], was used at the
Eska Mine along with the Eska Coal Washery displayed in this exhibit.
The mine . . . — — Map (db m254928) HM
The Matanuska River valley in which you are standing is a structural trough formed by the collision of the North American and North Pacific
tectonic plates during the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods (200-65 million years before present, MYBP), a . . . — — Map (db m254978) HM
Don't blink or you'll miss it-glaciers are on the move. Research has taught us more about how glaciers move than we've ever known before.
Tracking a Moving Glacier
A glacier's pace varies like a river's speed as . . . — — Map (db m255273) HM
The Matanuska River valley has always been a transportation corridor. Before 1900 the
Chickaloon-Knik-Nelchina Trail connected coastal Dena'ina and the interior Ahtna Hwt'aene'
(Peoples) including Nay'dini'aa Na' (Chickaloon Native Village). In . . . — — Map (db m254959) HM
Made of spruce logs harvested on his Caribou Creek property, Jim Hitchcock
constructed this cabin in the mid to late 1960's. It was designed to be used for
bathrooms with showers at a City of Palmer RV Park (now the site of the Palmer
Court . . . — — Map (db m255172) HM
Hoist
Men, timber, and explosive powder were moved by this hoist on 2,500 foot cables. Depending on
available resources, steam or air could be used to drive the hoist, which required 25 to 40
horsepower to operate. A gear could be mounted . . . — — Map (db m254918) HM
Ice worms really do exist. Not only do
these tiny creatures live in Alaska
legends, they also live on many
Alaska glaciers.
What are they?
Ice worms are segmented annelids, similar to
earthworms. Two species are known to . . . — — Map (db m255280) HM
The Glenn Highway is the main
connection for the people of this valley.
Can you imagine this place without it?
Nature's Highway
The Matanuska Glacier helped carve a wide path through the Chugach and
Talkeetna mountain ranges. As the . . . — — Map (db m255121) HM
The resources of the Matanuska Valley, including its people, create a cornucopia of natural wealth.
The Wild Advantage
Throughout history, Athabascans thrived off the bountiful resources of this valleyfishing, hunting, and gathering, . . . — — Map (db m255209) HM
Katie was clan grandmother of Nay'dini'aa Na' Kayax (Chickaloon
Native Village) and a founder of the Ya Ne Dah Ah School, the first
Tribal school in Alaska. She taught Ahtna language and culture
including, songs, dances, beading, and Ahtna . . . — — Map (db m255179) HM
Hauling coal cars and other heavy equipment to the surface of the
mine was the job of this hoist. Originally used at Premier Mine, it
was located at the top of a hill with the cable running down and
through a load out chute. The large, fifty . . . — — Map (db m254930) HM
The Matanuska Valley's ecosystem is an intricate
network of diverse, interconnected elements.
You too are a part of this!
Rich and Connected
Carved in part by the Matanuska Glacier and the braided
Matanuska River, this long valley . . . — — Map (db m255256) HM
The "Lucas House" was built by the US Navy in 1917 in Chickaloon. Until about
1922 it served as an officer's quarters during the Navy's short period of coal
production in Chickaloon. At that time, the downstairs was two rooms, a kitchen . . . — — Map (db m254984) HM
The Dena'ina called this river the Chatanhtnu and the Ahtna called this river
Ts'itonhtna' which means "river from which trail comes out". The Matanuska
River watershed was an important route between Cook Inlet and the Copper River
Basin used . . . — — Map (db m254976) HM
The people of Nay'dini'aa Na' (Chickaloon) are part of an ancient culture that has met challenges and persevered.
Dene'
The Ahtna and Dena'ina Athabascans, or Dene' (People), have occupied this
area for thousands of years . . . — — Map (db m255224) HM
THE PEOPLE
The Chickaloon Ahtna Athabascan people traveled within the Copper River and Cook Inlet areas. Many families had their own traditional hunting and fishing grounds. The people moved from camp to camp, depending upon what food . . . — — Map (db m255185) HM
These pieces of petrified wood were found at the Wishbone Hill
escarpment, just north of here. Fossilized plant types document there
were warm, subtropical temperatures in this region 55 million years ago.
The petrified forests in this area . . . — — Map (db m255202) HM
This log home was originally built by Ray Roberts and his family with the help
from local friends and neighbors in 1949. The cottonwood logs were harvested at
Kings River and milled on the Roberts' property. The interior of the home was . . . — — Map (db m255259) HM
Rita was instrumental in forming the Alpine Historical Society
and was the first president serving in that capacity from 1983 to
1984. Rita and her husband Gene moved to Alaska in 1969. For
three years, they lived at Fort Richardson Army Base . . . — — Map (db m254924) HM
This shovel arm was used in construction of the Glenn
Highway. The undercoat was painted with military olive
drab paint as much of the heavy construction equipment
was brought to Alaska for military use such as building
the 'Alcan' Highway. . . . — — Map (db m255104) HM
This is the gravesite of John Goodlataw. Born in 1870 in Chitina,
Goodlataw was Ahtna. In 1920, he settled in Chickaloon and worked
at various jobs around this area. He passed away in 1935.
The custom of raising Spirit Houses above the grave . . . — — Map (db m255207) HM
For a small town (about 1,400 people) Sutton has a rich history. Two
Indigenous Athabascan Nations, the coastal Dena'ina and the interior Ahtna
Hwt'aene' (Peoples) including Nay'dini'aa Na' (Chickaloon Native Village),
used this part of the . . . — — Map (db m255008) HM
As mines were sold and finally closed in the Eska area, many people moved closer to the
railroad tracks, to what is now Sutton. Mike O'Neill, former owner of the Alpine Inn, built
this wood frame structure to be Sutton's first gas station and . . . — — Map (db m254980) HM
The mountain dominating the view to the north is Granite Peak.
At 6,729 feet tall, it is one of the highest mountains on the front
range of the Talkeetna Mountains (you are standing at 500 feet). It
can be spotted easily from Anchorage on a . . . — — Map (db m254986) HM
This area's coal deposits took millions of
years to form and only a few years to mine,
forever changing the surrounding valley.
Stored Energy
Essentially, we get coal from sunshine. Hundreds of millions of years
ago, swampy forests . . . — — Map (db m255112) HM
Wall tents have been a part of Alaskan camps and settlements
since the late 1800's. From the gold rush camps of the 1890's to
fishing and hunting camps of today, these substantial tents with
built-up walls remain typical of camp living in the . . . — — Map (db m255194) HM
Walt was a coal miner at Jonesville coal mine from 1945 until 1967. He
worked as a millwright and master mechanic. He enjoyed exploring the
mountains and valleys around the mining area and learned about the
indigenous plants and local history. . . . — — Map (db m255254) HM
History, Nature, and Culture:
These are just a few of the things that make the
Alpine Historical Park a popular stop for travelers
along the Glenn Highway National Scenic Byway.
Athabascan Culture, Coal Mining, and Glenn Highway . . . — — Map (db m254897) HM
Ahtna Hwt'aene' and Dena'ina Peoples have used over 100 local wild plants
for everyday living tools, food, medicine, and ceremony. They believe that
plants should be treated with respect and they often speak to plants while
harvesting them. . . . — — Map (db m255182) HM
