The Trail: the Story of the Historic Valdez-Fairbanks Trail That Opened Alaska's Vast Interior
The Trail details the history of the current Richardson Highway, which connects Valdez, Alaska with Fairbanks, Alaska. Its history encompasses its beginning as the Valdez Glacier Trail in the late 1890's, as the cry of "GOLD!" echoed from the Klondike, along with its development into the Trans-Alaska Military Trail of 1899, under the charge of Capt. W.R. Abercrombie. The historic period of time from being "The Trail" to its current status as the Richardson Highway, a major transportation artery into the Interior of Alaska, is shown in detail along with the human interest stories that revolved along its route.
Dotting "The Trail" were numerous Roadhouses that came and went, each providing lodging and food for those souls who braved the elements in their journey along this rugged and treacherous trail. Their historic and often colorful pasts are duly noted in this book.
Telegraph Stations played a major role in the success of the development of "The Trail", and helped to link the 360 miles between Valdez and Fairbanks, each station manned by members of the Signal Corps.
The Trail is filled with hundreds of historical photos, maps, and newspaper clippings, each of which gives the reader an intimate look into Alaska's early development, and subsequent entry into the "modern age" of transportation and tourism.
(Softcover, 406 pages. Published 2008).
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