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.

This book, The Trail: the Story of the Historic Valdez-Fairbanks Trail That Opened Alaska's Vast Interior, is available for purchase at the Trapper Creek Museum. It can also be purchased directly from the publisher, Sluice Box Productions.

Lavish Silence: A Pictorial Chronicle of Vanished Curry, Alaska

Alaska has been home to many camps and communities that flourished briefly and later declined and disappeared. Most sprang to life with a strike of gold and lived as long as the mining was profitable then died with the depletion of the mineral deposit that gave it life.

Unlike the notable places that had come before, it was the birth of the Alaska Railroad that, in turn, gave birth to Curry, Alaska. Curry served the many facets of the Alaska Railroad operations and passengers, boasting a wonderful grand hotel and many other amenities, in the middle of an early, wild Alaska.

A California Congressman, the Alaska Central Railroad, Susitna River Steamboats, Alaska Nellie, Deadhorse Hill, and a devastating fire, all play a part in the story of the once vibrant, now vanished Alaska Railroad community of Curry, Alaska.

This book, Lavish Silence, a Pictorial Chronicle of Vanished Curry, Alaska, is available for purchase at the Trapper Creek Museum. It can also be purchased directly from the publisher, Sluice Box Productions.

A River Between Us: The Upper Susitna River Valley, A Historical Story Collection

The Upper Susitna River Valley and its many waterways are treasure troves of history. As time flows between the Valley Rivers, interesting events, both significant and insignificant in scope, have occurred and continue to occur today. A few of these historical episodes are chronicled within this book, A River Between Us, published by Sluice Box Productions in conjunction with the Trapper Creek Museum.

This book is available for purchase at the Trapper Creek Museum. It can also be purchased directly from the publisher, Sluice Box Productions.