Fairbanks Attractions

Bush planes have been an integral part of Alaska's 20th C history, and the bush pilot persona has been an enduring legend in the North. The Alaskaland Pioneer Air Museum offers great insight into some of this history. The museum features displays and information on the planes and pilots that have helped shape Alaska. On show are 14 aircraft, as well as huge piston engine. Exhibits also include photographs, personal records, memorabilia, and pieces dating back to as early as 1913.

For anyone interested in flight or the history of Alaska, both of which are intertwined, this museum is a good place to start. The museum is run by the Interior and Arctic Alaska Aeronautical Foundation (IAAAF).

University of Alaska Museum of the North offers well over one million historical and natural history pieces and research material. The permanent collection at the Museum of the North includes ethnological items made and used by Alaskan Natives, a fine arts collection that focuses mainly on Alaskan art, archeological finds from prehistoric cultures, a bird collection representing over 20,000 species, and paleontology specimens.

The museum is also a research and teaching facility. Some of the research focuses on such issues as climate change, genetics, and contaminants. Programs, special exhibits, lectures and other educational offerings are other components of the museum. Also on site is a 125 seat auditorium and a gift shop.

The building that houses the museum is also noteworthy. Designed by Joan Soranno, the white building features interesting lines and curves intended to resemble the Alaskan landscape.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) was established in 1960 to conserve wildlife, wilderness and recreational values. It is presently the largest Wildlife Refuge in the United States, covering 19.3 million acres. The Refuge preserves herds of caribou, polar and grizzly bear populations, and the 160 species of migratory birds that arrive annually.

The Circle District museum features mining and other historical exhibits related to the area. Gold was discovered along Birch Creek in 1891 and the rush began! There are also displays on preglacial Alaskan mammals.

Central has a population of less than 60 people and serves mainly as a supply center for a small number of miners who still work the area.

Circle Hot Springs, located not far from the town of Circle, was founded in the late 1800s following the discovery of the hot springs.

Currently closed and for sale - the Circle Hot Springs Resort, the hotel built in 1930, maintains an Olympic size swimming pool.

The Dog Mushing Museum offers a comprehensive look at dog mushing, with photo displays, sleds, clothing, harnesses, trophies and racing information, and other memorabilia. A video presentation presents mushing videos.

This National Preserve protects areas of the Yukon River and all of the Charley River Basin. Many cabins and historic sites from the Gold Rush of 1898 still remain. Archeological sites have also been uncovered.

Peregrine falcons nest in the bluffs of the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve while abundant wildlife roam through the rolling hills.

The old Klondike Gold Rush gold seekers would have been happy to take an El Dorado Gold Mine Tour. Here everyone is assured of finding gold!

The Binkley's Tanana Valley Railroad takes visitors through the gold fields of the Interior. The train stops at a working gold mine where demonstrations are conducted and guests are allowed to pan for gold themselves. In addition the train passes through a perma frost tunnel where a miner with a pick axe will demonstrate the style of mining in use underground during the gold rush. Also in the tunnel visitors will see ancient bones reputed to be 30,000 years old.

Later on the tour goes to the Sluicebox where the technique of panning for gold is demonstrated. Visitors are then allowed to pan for gold and will ultimately be successful. Afterwards you can take your new found gold to the weigh scales to find out its value against the market price. The tour also offers complementary fresh baked cookies served in the Cook Shack.

THE ATTRACTION IS CLOSED.

Ester Gold Camp is located near Cripple Creek - one of the richest gold creeks in the world. These are the remains of the 1904 townsite of Ester and the Fairbanks Exploration Company.

Ester Gold Camp dates back to 1900 when the camp was called Ester City. By 1907, Ester City had three hotels, five saloons and five other businesses along with the many homes.

Visitors can enjoy the Ester Gold Camp Dining Hall Buffet and Malemute Saloon Show.

Fairbanks International Airport opened in 1951 and the passenger terminal building was completed in 1954. The airport offers passenger service to a number of destinations, primarily within the state.

Fort Yukon was originally a Canadian outpost in Russian Territory, with a trading post established by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1847. Fort Yukon was an important trade center for the Gwichin Indians. It lies north of the Arctic Circe and is accessible by air or barge during the summer months. Today the village of Fort Yukon is home to some 600 residents.

Gold Dredge Number 8 is a 250 foot long ship that was used in the search for gold along the Goldstream and Engineer Creeks in the late 1920s. Dredge Number 8 was manufactured in 1927-28, shipped from Pennsylvania by transcontinental railroad and by ocean-going barge to the Alaskan Railroad, where it was assembled at the head of the Goldstream Valley. It was in operation until 1959.

This massive three story barge combines all the elements of gold mining in one spot. Those include digging, sorting, gold-saving and disposal of tailings. Gold Dredge Number 8 is the only fully persevered gold dredge and as a result it has been placed on the Register of National Historic Sites. A tour of the dredge is provided by an informative guide showing the inner workings of the equipment and relaying historical nuggets of information on what life was like for the gold miners. The 1.5 hour tour ends with an opportunity to pan for gold, following which visitors are treated to a hearty stew and fresh made biscuits served in the Mess hall.

This is the northern most satellite tracking station in North America, it is civilian operated. Guided tours are available to the public.

The stern-wheeler "Discovery III" takes visitors on 3 1/2 hour tours on the Chena and Tanana rivers. The boat stops at the Chena Indian village for a guided walking tour. The tour is an opportunity for tourists to better understand ancient Athabascan Indian culture.

Trans Arctic Circle Treks offers guided air and land tours ranging from one to four days. Both summer and winter tours are available.

The excursions include day trips to the Arctic Circle, walking tours of the alpine tundra and hands-on Trans-Alaska Pipeline demonstrations.