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Alaska Centers - Fairbanks

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Alaska Centers - Fairbanks

Welcome to the official page for the Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center. http://www.alaskacenters.gov/fairbanks.cfm

The Alaska Centers support the appropriate use and enjoyment of Alaska's public lands and resources through "one-stop shopping" for information, trip-planning assistance, and resource education. The Alaska Centers are a system of information and education centers that help provide visitors and residents with meaningful, safe, enjoyable experiences on public lands and encourage them to sustain the

natural and cultural resources of Alaska. These centers are nationally recognized for providing consistent, high quality services at all four locations.

10/01/2025

During the federal government shutdown, this account will share critical information about park access, safety and resources. Some services may be limited.

08/23/2025

Today's the day!
Join us for a birthday celebration commemorating 109 years of America's Best Idea!
We have a day of fun planned:
12 noon: Sing happy birthday and enjoy a piece of cake
1 p.m.: Park staff Adam Freeburg will present, "Preservation as Partnership"- a look at the National Register of Historic Places.
2 p.m.: Film- "Out There" A National Parks Story

We also have a temporary exhibit about the different national park designations.

We hope to see you here!

05/02/2025

Fairbanks Friday: Mary Akimoto, Katzu Okabazashi, and other Japanese Ladies of the line.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The culture and history of Alaska—especially Fairbanks—are deeply intertwined with the stories, struggles, and contributions of AAPI communities. As we take this month to celebrate the rich traditions, resilience, and achievements of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, we must also confront the overlooked and painful chapters of our shared past.

During the Alaska Gold Rush, Fairbanks became an unexpected hub of Japanese migration and success. Many trekked from other gold camps and arrived to find a community where they could thrive running restaurants, owning Laundrys, becoming landlords, and prospecting.

But not all who came found freedom or opportunity.

Many Japanese women—some deceived, some forced—were imported to Fairbanks and surrounding mining towns and forced into prostitution. Stripped of their agency and far from home, they endured unimaginable hardships, violence, and exploitation in a hostile, unfamiliar land. While prostitution actually offered a lot of white woman opportunities for freedom, wealth, and adventure in Alaska- it did the opposite for Asian women. These women were often nameless in official records, their voices erased, their suffering buried under myths of frontier prosperity.

In the image above three Japanese pr******tes are photographed: we know at least two of their names- Mary Akimoto and Katzu Okabazashi. Both of these women had tragic demises, and both were potentially linked to Japanese bartender and realtor George Akimoto. While George monopolized the red-light district and became wealthy through photographing all of the white pr******tes, he is theorized to be linked to Mary's mysterious death and Katzu’s su***de.

They were real. They lived. They endured. In the face of dehumanization, these women showed remarkable resilience. Their lives—marked by injustice and erased from many histories—are part of the very fabric of this place. This AAPI Heritage Month, we honor their memory, acknowledge the violence they endured, and reaffirm our commitment to remembering their humanity and condemning the systems that harmed them—then and now.

To read more: Check out Good Time Girls of the Alaska Yukon Goldrush by Lael Morgan

04/25/2025

Fairbanks Friday: Mary Siah

Ever find yourself wandering around Fairbanks and wondering about the names on our buildings and streets? How many are named for local community leaders whose stories we’ve never heard or that you might have forgotten? We are surrounded by reminders of exemplary people who embodied the spirit of service.

One of those names belongs to a woman whose legacy still ripples through our community today—Mary Virginia Siah, the namesake of the Mary Siah Recreation Center.

Mary moved to Fairbanks in 1952, searching for new opportunities. As the eldest of 15 children, she brought with her a sense of responsibility, resilience, and a deep passion for service. A gifted artist, she expressed herself through her creative work (included here!). After a car accident in 1970 left her disabled, she turned to the Fairbanks Recreational Center pool as a lifeline during her recovery.

But when the center was threatened with demolition in the late '70s, Mary took action. She organized, rallied the community, and gathered signatures—leading a successful grassroots campaign to save the facility. Her reason? Mary knew the importance of having a place in the community that served everyone: children, seniors, families, and especially those with disabilities.

Thanks to her efforts, the building was not only saved—it was renamed in her honor in 1980 by Mayor John Carlson. In 1984, she received the Governor's Volunteer Award for her lasting impact on the lives of so many Alaskans.

Mary’s story matters because it reminds us that service is the foundation of a thriving community—it builds trust, fosters connection, and ensures that no one is left behind.

To read more:
https://fm.kuac.org/Local%20News/2024-03-02/alaskas-black-history-mary-siah
Watch Dorthy Jones "The History of the African American Community in Fairbanks" here:
https://youtu.be/oHNEaIVasKs?si=FVskM0j0JOhjSnC4

Photos are from Dorthy Jones talk and the Mary Siah Recreation Center

04/20/2025

National Park Week celebrates the network of amazing natural, cultural and recreational sites in the National Park Service. Join us this week as we share our "Park Playlist", a collection of people, places, programs, experiences, and stories that we keep on repeat.

The light here—whether it's 24-hour summer sun or glowing winter auroras—is surreal. It's the kind of beauty that doesn’t feel real. If alternative music were the night sky, it would feel dreamy. The shifting greens, purples, and pinks responding to the solar wind, are like nature’s emotional outburst.

NPS Photo/Sean Tevebaugh

04/19/2025

National Park Week celebrates the network of amazing natural, cultural and recreational sites in the National Park Service. Join us this week as we share our "Park Playlist", a collection of people, places, programs, experiences, and stories that we keep on repeat.

Did you know Gyrfalcons can deliver one of the "greatest hits" of the bird world?

Gyrfalcons, the world's largest falcon at up to five pounds, don't use their feet to grab their prey, but plummet from extreme heights to swoop down and punch birds in-flight with clenched 'fists.' While their typical prey is ptarmigan, ducks, and shorebirds, they are known to hit geese and even sandhill cranes in flight, killing them with a single blow!

NPS Photo/Josh Spice

04/09/2025

Experience the adventure and beauty of Alaska’s public lands through a Student Conservation Association internship with the Interpretation team at the Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center. You’ll join a team of dedicated National Park Service rangers working with visitors on their “trip of a lifetime” to interior Alaska.

While here, you'll hone public speaking and communication skills by providing orientation and safety information at the visitor center and over the phone, develop original, in-person programs for visitors, and project work to sustain interpretation team operations and activities. During project time, the participant will assist with electronic requests for park information, work on exhibit maintenance, and complete other tasks depending on interpretation team needs and the participant's interests.

Apply today! https://myjobs.adp.com/scacareers/cx/job-listing?keyword=00801024%20

04/04/2025

Fairbanks Friday: Poldine Carlo

As April begins, a month dedicated to service, we celebrate those who dedicate themselves to making their communities stronger and our world a better place. It’s the perfect time to honor Poldine Carlo, a true pillar of our community.

A Koyukon Alaskan Athabaskan, Poldine was raised along the Yukon River, where the above photo captures her as a teenager swimming gleefully in its waters. Upon moving to Fairbanks with her husband, Bill, she was faced with native discrimination and exclusionary policies by the town businesses and organizations. Poldine recognized there was a need in the community to have a safe welcoming gathering space for native peoples, inspiring her to help found the Fairbanks Native Association. Her commitment to fostering community transformed a modest vision of having a welcoming space for Native peoples into a multi-million-dollar organization, employing over 200 staff members and offering a wide range of educational and health resources to the Native population.

Her dedication to community didn’t stop there. Poldine also served on the Alaska Bicentennial Commission, which worked to implement several community events including: beautification of playgrounds, buildings of trails, culture preservation, and creating of museums. As we approach the Semi-quincentennial, 50 years later, it is a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the parks and cultural centers that were created during this time. A proud mother of eight, Poldine lived to 97, leaving behind an incredible legacy of service, leadership, and love for her community.

Watch Tanana Chiefs Conference's video about Poldine on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWYszLR6U_o

To read more (and to see where we sourced our pictures 😜) :
https://alaskawomenshalloffame.org/alumnae/poldine-demoski-carlo/
https://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/alaska-native-elder-poldine-carlo-dies/article_922ee2c6-53fd-11e8-a754-7f81b0b8f19a.html -source=login
https://jukebox.uaf.edu/p/4311

03/29/2025

Fairbanks Fridays: Ella Joseph-de-Saccrist

When thinking about the tapestry of Fairbanks, the ladies of the line are certainly a vital part of our collective history.

In a time when women had limited rights, the frontier offered more freedom, and many women seized the opportunity for adventure to build a life and name for themselves in Alaska. In Fairbanks, woman who worked in prostitution lived along “The Line” (presently 4th ave). Fairbanks was one of the only cities were prostitution remained legal, or at least was turned blind eye, and women had routine health screenings and paid city fines monthly. These women, through their service, dedication to community work, and business practices, played a foundational role in the development of Fairbanks. Unfortunately, because many of these women became successful through prostitution, their names and stories are often erased from Fairbanks history. Ella Joseph-de-Saccrist is a unique case. Despite being a black woman and a pr******te, her grave sits today, marked by an elegant tombstone, in the all-white “pioneer” section of Clay Street Cemetery.

Moving to Alaska from Tennessee, Ella had a sort of grace to her, paired with refined speech and fine manners that was made her stand apart from other pr******tes at the time. Known on the line by the name Lola Belmont, she was a successful Black and French (with West Indian roots) pr******te and bootlegger. She was highly independent, even by Alaskan Standards. Prior to moving to Fairbanks, Ella ran a successful pr******te house in Circle. When she moved to Fairbanks, she was able to purchase two houses on the Line and invest in the respectable sections of Fairbanks. At her peek, Ella owned seven properties!

In May of 1915, Ella married Richard Geoghegan, a well-known linguist who worked for Mayor Wickersham, in secret. Neither had anything to gain from the other; Ella was significantly more well off than Richard and Ella being a woman of color put Richard’s career at risk. They continued to live separately, but the couple would meet for beer and exchange love letters through the mail. Ella died of pulmonary tuberculosis on 3 March 1936. It is not recorded how he did it, but Richard was the one who had her buried in the all-white “pioneer” section of Clay Street Cemetery with an elegant tombstone. Years later when he passed his grave sat next to hers reading the Gaelic text “LAIMH LE RUININ A CHROIDHE” translated to “Beside the darling of his heart”.

To read more about Ella:

Check out Good Time Girls of the Alaska Yukon Goldrush by Lael Morgan

https://www.adn.com/opinions/2017/08/18/alaskan-who-knew-more-than-200-languages-could-find-the-right-word/

Photo credits to: Good Time Girls of the Alaska Yukon Goldrush by Lael Morgan, this is the only photo of Ella we were able to find

03/21/2025

On the third Friday of Women’s history month, we honor the life of one of Fairbanks vital civil rights activists, Beatrice Coleman.

During World War II, Alaska was talked about as being a place full of opportunity for African Americans due to its military presence and war time production. Yet the community of African Americans in Fairbanks was small and the racism faced was blatant and common. In 1946, Beatrice Coleman was on a date with her husband Robert. When they tried to get drinks at a Cocktail Lounge called Hill’s, they were denied service, on the explicit basis of them being “colored”. Beatrice worked to file charges against the owner, Rudy Hill, in a legal battle that lasted over two years and marked the first time the 1945 Anti-Discrimination Act was put to use in Fairbanks. Over the course of this fight, she helped to push congress to strengthen the law, removing loopholes, to ensure there were protections for civil rights in Alaska.

Beatrice’s advocacy was life long. She became a founding member of the Fairbanks chapter of the NAACP and was instrumental in fighting for equality in housing and employment. She was also the first African American woman to be enrolled at the University of Alaska.

In reflecting and commemorating 250 years of the Declaration of Independence, may we reflect upon the words claiming that "all men are created equal," and recognize how that promise has yet to be fully realized in the United States. We must continue the revolution started in 1776 to push for a world where these words are not just dreamy ideals but a reality for every person, regardless of race, gender, or background. May Beatrice serve as a reminder of not just the work that has been done, but the work still needed to be done. We may honor her legacy by continuing this fight and working to make a more welcoming Fairbanks to all.

Thank you Beatrice Coleman.

To read more about Beatrice Coleman, or black history in Alaska, check out:

“Black History in the Last Frontier” by Ian C. Hartman
https://ow.ly/e8wj50VmwBg

03/14/2025

Fairbanks Fridays: Mary Shields
In Honor of the 2025 Iditarod coming to a close this week, we’re looking back to celebrate a true trailblazer in our Fairbanks community – Mary Shields, the first woman to complete the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race!️
Mary first came to Alaska in 1965 to work for the Campfire Girls, a group dedicated to helping youth to connect to the outdoors. When she later returned to Alaska, she developed the love and passion for mushing and dogs that helped her quickly became one of the sport’s most iconic figures. In 1974, she made history by becoming the first woman to finish the demanding Iditarod. Her perseverance and dedication to the race paved the way for future generations of women in this challenging sport.
Beyond the race, Mary ran Alaskan Tails of the Trail, sharing the life of dog mushing, along with her knowledge and love for sled dogs with the community and visitors. She is located in Goldstream Valley, outside Fairbanks.
Her courage, hard work, and connection to Fairbanks make her a true Alaskan legend. Thank you, Mary, for inspiring us all! 💙

To read more:
(Photo Credit to: )Mary Shields - Women Who Dared https://ow.ly/FCGB50VimXN
Project Jukebox: https://ow.ly/swBT50VimXJ

Address

101 Dunkel Street, Ste 110
Fairbanks, AK
99701

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 5pm
Tuesday	8am - 5pm
Wednesday	8am - 5pm
Thursday	8am - 5pm
Friday	8am - 5pm
Saturday	8am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+19074593730

Website

http://www.nps.gov/anch, http://www.youtube.com/user/AKCenters

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