President Harding drives in the golden spike that completed the Alaska Railroad, Nenana, July 15, 1923. Weeks later after he left Alaska, Harding died-some say from bad seafood eaten in either Haines or Skagway, but most opine a stroke.
All Aboard: The Alaska Railroad Centennial
On view May 5, 2023 – Feb. 18, 2024, Anchorage Museum Atrium, first floor. Opening in the centennial year of the completion of the Alaska Railroad, this exhibition created in collaboration with Alaska Railroad historians and experts looks at the history, impact and legacy of the railroad through archival images, objects and ephemera. Examining three key eras of railroad history spanning the 20th and 21st centuries, the exhibition highlights crucial moments, technological innovations, and human stories connected to the railroad and its operations in Alaska. "All Aboard" includes public programs presented in collaboration with the Alaska Railroad, community clubs, and railroad enthusiasts, also referred to as "foamers," so called because they are thought to foam at the mouth at the site of a steam train.
Limited Edition: Centennial Special
12 days/12 nights, available late May – early September 2023
Ride the Coastal Classic, Glacier Discovery and Denali Star Trains the full length of the Alaska Railroad's historic main line; entry to the Anchorage Museum's special exhibit; a wildlife cruise in Kenai Fjords National Park; Spencer Glacier float trip; and a Denali wildlife tour. $6,175 GoldStar Service or $5,155 Adventure Class. Value Season pricing available for September departures.
Alaska Railroad open house in Fairbanks
Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023
The Alaska Railroad's community open houses have returned, just in time to celebrate the railroad's 100-year anniversary in 2023. The event provides Alaskans with a unique opportunity to interact with railroaders and to learn about the state's railroad, with train rides, static displays of railroad locomotives, and many more family-friendly activities. Free to all.
Train art
Commemorative prints and posters from Alaska artists William "Art" Chase and Noah Nolywaika and other souvenirs are available at the Alaska Railroad gift shops, http://www.alaskarailroadgiftshop.com.
