Flowers, History and Smoking Fairbanks Alaska: The Estate Takes on Alaska

Copyright 2019, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

July 7, 2019

Our master plan for the day - - early start, head to the Morris-Thompson Cultural Center, consider a walkabout downtown, visit Pioneer Park, and then, punt.

Well, Momma Nature is burning with angst and fires.  And, there is smoke!

Here is the sun, somewhere, through the smoke - - 

So, we went to the Cultural Center and asked some questions and watched a couple of fab videos.  One really good thing was there was a Denali National Park employee available to answer all the questions I had.  I had a few.  LOL

Outside the building were lovely gardens, sculpture and, of course, an old homestead building.  The home was built before 1910 by Walter & Mary Ellen Gould.  The signage indicated this building was still on its original site, all these years later.

This sculpture was made of nails.  There were two of these "chicks".

The flower gardens were lovely.

Cute little thing, isn't it?  The signage indicated the Goulds kept it small so he would not have to haul so much firewood in the winter.

A peak inside.

I was enchanted by the shape of these hanging planters.  Simple, elegant.

We went over to the Pioneer Park, but, not for long.  Three different employees warned us it was not safe to be out and about in this weather/smoke.  None of them were youngsters, so, why were they out in this silliness?  Things just don’t make sense to me. 

We basically sprinted through one section of the park, and I snapped photos while running, so, they are not so good, not straight, blah blah blah.  LOL  However, there are a few worthy of sharing!

This is one of the earliest cabins built in Fairbanks, about 1904, by 2 Finns. Has some of the original "mud" between the logs!

This one was built in 1948, as part of a motel.  You know, rumors, and parties  - - 

The Palace Hotel and Bathhouse. Built about 1906.  Cost of a tub bath was 50 cents.

The Palace Theater & Saloon. Housed Golden's Grocery, Palfy's Sheet Metal Works and Brewery.

And, of course, one must enjoy the pretty flower - - 

SOOO, back to the Cultural Center we went.  On the drive back I saw this statue, depicting an Inuit family in winter clothing.  As it was downtown, with one way streets, I wiggled The Estate around and parked illegally for about 5 minutes while Man and Sir Winston stayed put.  I ran a city block, crossed a busy street, snapped some photos and had no idea what it was.  But, I liked it and I wanted a photo.  Got the photo, did not get a ticket. Win, winl

Back at the Morris-Thompson Cultural Center we watched several more videos.

  I think we saw just about all the different ones they had.  The staff were fully aware of the smoke issue and told us we were more than welcome to stay till they closed at 9 PM.

We came back to camp. 

Alaska has some serious fires and smoke.  And, hot!  Record setting hot. We have reservations near Denali National Park for the next 3 nights.  Hoping for cooler days and less smoke.

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