Fairbanks

  

We are learning so much about Alaska thru the tours and museums in this area. Today we went on the highly recommended Riverboat Discovery Cruise. This is a paddle wheeled powered riverboat on the Chena River. It is captained by 3rd and 4th generation Alaskan captains in one family. As we cruised down the river, a bush pilot showed how he takes off and lands on the river in his float plane. Then we got to watch Susan Butcher's Iditarod champion sled dog team pull a ATV around the nearby pond. Susan Butcher is the only woman to win four Iditarod's. It was fascinating to watch these dogs get so excited about pulling. They were amazing. We then went on down the river to an authentic Athabascan Indian Village. The Athabascan are Native Alaskans. We got off the boat and learned how the natives used to live, tan hides, fish and preserve the fish, build tents or log cabins and dress. The scenery along the river was really pretty -- actually it was mostly homes and some were beautiful!

After lunch we rode our bicycles over to the Museum of the North located on the University of Alaska campus. (Nobody told us it was at the top of the only long hill in Fairbanks!) The Gallery of Alaska covered the cultures and history of the various natives, the history of Alaska from when gold was discovered, the building of the Alaska highway and the oil from Prudhoe Bay. World War II brought the Japanese invasion and the interment of the Japanese already living in Alaska. Mammoths and steppe bison also roamed this state so there were bones, tusks and a mummified Ice Age steppe bison on display. Of course there was lots of art work and specimens of native bead work, fur and weapons.

We had dinner at the Salmon Bake on the grounds of Pioneer Park. They cook a really good salmon over a wood fire. Oh yeah, we finally got some good pictures of the big animals we have seen.