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Talkeetna, Alaska: An Isolated Mining Center Until 1964
 he
first thing you will want to do after you come into Talkeetna
is park your car and have a look around. There is a lot
to see: Talkeetna was an isolated mining supply center and
railroad town until 1964, when it was connected to the Parks
Highwaym and a whole section of town, including Main Street,
was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.
The Talkeetna Historical Society prints a tour map that
points out the many historic buildings in town; pick this
up and go walking! Many of the historic buildings in Talkeetna
were built of "regular" lumber - a luxury due
to the fact that Talkeetna was an Alaska Railroad town,
and it was easy to haul goods into the wilderness by rail.
But Talkeetna also has a wide array of log cabins, and a
walking tour of the town's historic places is not only fun,
but informative, as many of the buildings carry explanatory
signs. Stop in at Talkeetna's museums to learn more about
the Talkeetna's long and colorful history. (There are two
of them: the Talkeetna Historical Society Museum and the
privately operated Museum of Northern Adventure, which features
24 scenes of Alaskan life, with life-size wax figures. Like
most creative efforts in rural Alaska, both museums are
actually "do-it-yourself" projects by ambitious
local people.) Also look at the many new log buildings around
town; Talkeetna log builders are considered the best in
Alaska. Finally, it is widely held that a visit to Talkeetna
is incomplete without a photo at the "Welcome to Beautiful
Downtown Talkeetna" sign (shown at left). |
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