Saturday, July 6, 2013

FAIRBANKS DAY 2 JUNE 30

Today we toured around Fairbanks
First stop: the Natural History Museum at 
the University of Alaska

 Museum Entrance
 Finally.....He is really BIG
Maybe I don't want to run into one up close.

Walked through all the displays of animals and fish, minerals
(big gold display), artifacts, history of the Native People,
Gold Rush Era, Alaska Highway, and WWII.
When Japan occupied Attu Island in the Aleutians, they
took 600 native people to Japan as prisoners--most
never survived.  The US resettled most of the other native
people to Juneau and they were treated poorly.
The German POW's, nearby, were treated much better: 
better housing, abundance of food, an easier life. 

Very good museum 

Next stop: North Pole, AK
Visited Santa's Reindeer and workshop; and, put a
 good word in for the grandkids.
Santa's watching....
 Santa's Reindeer


Next Stop: The Alaskan Pipeline









 "Pig"

 After seeing the pipeline, we drove toward Chatanika
 This is gold mineing country

 This is the site of the Fairbanks Exploration Co,
where the miners would live while working the mine
Later, this was a resort, but now closed.

 Old buildings left abandon 

 Nicely decorated one!
 Chatanika Lodge

We stopped for dinner--Fish and Chips
Halibut and homemade hush puppies
Yummy!

 Inside the lodge, complete with dollar bills on the walls,
old mining stuff, and friendly owners (34yrs)
We are now about 150 miles from the Arctic Circle
Old Gold Dredge across the street
 Piles of tailings all over

 Another gold mine in the distance

 On our way back, tired and full.
It's 10:30 pm.

Tomorrow: Chicken
That's the town of Chicken not Chicken for dinner.

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