The Story of Esther Haakenson “A Thankful Pioneer” Story by Dana Jaworski | Originally published in the September 2013 issue of Last Frontier Magazine She lay in a hospital bed bruised and broken from a nasty fall. Down the hall, in the early hours of the morning, her husband’s battle with cancer ended. She had […]
First Automobile Drive From Fairbanks to Valdez
Bobby Sheldon Makes History in Alaska This Day in Alaska History – First Automobile from Fairbanks to Valdez On August 2, 1913, Robert “Bobby” E. Sheldon made history. His arrival in Valdez marked the day that the first automobile was driven by a civilian along the wagon trail from Fairbanks to Valdez—what would later be known […]
Alaska Air Tales: A Lesson in Safety on Lake Hood
“My First Swim of the Year” Taking a dip in Lake Hood and learning a valuable lesson. story by Rick Morrison as told to Jack Gwaltney – from the book, Alaska Air Tales One spring I was asked to check out a friend of mine in his Cessna 185 on floats on Lake Hood. He […]
From Sitka to Seattle: Alaska’s First Telegraph to the Continental United States
This Day in Alaska History: Telegraph in Alaska Alaska’s First Telegraph Message to the Continental United States by The Alaska Life History is made because of many different moving parts and elements coming together and doing something for the first time. Historical events in Alaska have a lot of moving parts—parts that travel incredible distances. […]
Discovering Gold At Pedro Creek
On this day in Alaska history… The Discovery of Gold at Pedro Creek “There’s gold in them there hills!” claimed Felix Pedro on July 22, 1902. He had been searching in the Tanana area near E.T. Barnett’s trading post for a few years and finally found what he was looking for—14 feet under an unnamed […]
Doctor In Peril – Alaska Air Tales
Alaska Air Tales – “Doctor in Peril” A doctor takes an unfortunate step that could have been fatal. Story by Bonnie Hemry – from the book, Alaska Air Tales, written by Jack Gwaltney It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon in July, 1978. Conditions were superb for flying and fishing. My husband, three and one-half children, […]
Killing Mosquitoes By The Thousands
Mosquitoes – A Story from An Alaskan Pioneer by Gerrit “Heinie” Snider The following story is from Heinie Snider’s book, Centennial – 100 Stories of Alaska, published in 1966 in honor of the 100th anniversary of the United State’s purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867. Everyone can appreciate a good mosquito killing story, especially in […]
Memories of Camping at Bear Creek near Seward
Seeking Solitude at Bear Creek Remembering good times camping on Bear Creek in Seward as a teenager by Michael Hankins This story isn’t about climbing one of Alaska’s tallest peaks. It’s not about kayaking the state’s wildest rivers or surfing the Gulf of Alaska. The tale is about how easy it was for a group […]
Thick Fog, No Land In Sight And Low On Fuel – Alaska Air Tales
Alaska Air Tales – An Unexpected Emergency by John Graybill as told to Larry Kaniut – from the book Alaska Air Tales As far as I could see in every direction, the entire Matanuska Valley was plugged with fog. Would I have to return to Rainy Pass to land? Approximately 1979 I was involved with […]
One Hundred Years of Wasilla
Mother Gold, Father Railroad – The Birth of Wasilla A history of Wasilla, Alaska by Skip Coghlan Long long ago, the great Copper River Basin ice field covered land where the Copper and Matanuska Rivers now flow, shaping mountains and valleys as its glaciers paused, advanced, and retreated. The Matanuska Glacier reached 4000 feet at […]
First Airplane Flight in Alaska – A Special Fourth of July Celebration
First Airplane Flight in Alaska by The Alaska Life On July 4, 1913, one hundred and five years ago, Alaskans had more than just Independence Day to celebrate. The day before, on July 3rd in Fairbanks, the first airplane flight in Alaska took place. Two Fairbanks businessmen, Arthur Williams and R.S. McDonald, hired aviator and […]
AMHS Legendary Captain Jack V. Johnson
Jack V. Johnson, Alaska Legend and Hero to Israel Captain Bill Hopkins, AMHS retired A memorable chief mate, Jack V. “Square-rigger” Johnson (1927 – 2014), is an Alaskan original from Kodiak. As a man who had sailed the world’s oceans at a young age, he signed onboard the S/S Exodus as a crewmember at the […]
