Fairbanks, AK – Day 2

July 28, 2013

We had a busy sightseeing day today. Our first stop was the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. There were some interesting exhibits and a good movie on living in Fairbanks in Winter. Our second stop was the Ice Museum in an old theater.  The real challenge was finding lunch. While there are many good places to eat, they are not open on Sunday. We and many other found the Fudge Pot. They did sell fudge but also had very good sandwiches and soup, the Salmon chowder was good! After lunch we visited the Yukon Quest Visitors Center. The Yukon Quest is an international dogsled race between Fairbanks, AK and Whitehorse, YT. They alternate directions each year. Susan Butcher’s husband is a winner of this race.

Cabin and garden outside Morris Thompson Visitors Center

Donna chilling out in the Ice House

Katherine reluctantly sitting at the Ice Table

Ice carving demonstration...about 10-15 minutes work.

 

Park along the Chena River

Park and Chena River

 

Our final stop for the afternoon was Gold Dredge No. 8 in Fox, AK just up the Steese Highway. When you arrive you walk under the Alyeska Pipeline and board a train for a short trip to the dredge. Along the way they had demonstrations of several older gold mining technologies Plus a demonstration of gold panning. Upon disembarking each person receives a bag of concentrate to pan. Stations are set up with water and pans and an old 35mm film container to put you gold in. With help we finished our panning. I found $27 in flakes, Katherine $16, and Donna $9. We combined our fortunes and had the gold flakes put into a locket for Katherine.

Old time prospector operation.

 

Gold Dredge No. 8

 

Katherine showing off her riches.

 

Katherine's gold bonanza!

 

Alyeska Pipeline cutaway with "dumb" cleaning pig

 

 

Tonight we all had dinner at the Pioneer Park Alaska Salmon Bake. This was a great meal with way too much to eat again. Entrees were baked Yukon River Sockeye Salmon, beer battered cod, and cut to order prime rib. All were great and I wanted more but was ready to burst. Afterwards we went over to the Theater for Golden Review Stage Show that parodied Fairbanks history. The best act was the Alaskan version of the Abbot and Costello classic “Who’s the Lead Dog?” The crew did it flawlessly.

 

Women's fate in early Fairbanks - working or "working."

And sometimes the working were forced into "working."

There was a shortage of women.

Outhouses were common - multi-tasking toilet seat to warm your buns or elsewhere.

The cast who put on a great show.

 

Jeff making friends with Patrick on Friday night.

Jeff and Patrick. Please don't get jealous Walt! ;-))