Fairbanks is the most populous city of northern Alaska, but still has only around 31,000 residents. It provides services to a geographically large area (eg. dental, medical, specialty repair, etc) and is home to a university.
Fairbanks has a distinct historic downtown region centered on the Chena River. It is here that you’ll find the main tourist information center, and it’s also a good spot from which to go for a stroll around the river region.
A good place to start is Golden Heart Plaza, built for the 25th anniversary celebration of Alaskan statehood. Here you’ll find a clock tower and this very interesting distance from Fairbanks indicator….
The statue featured at the top of this post is also in Golden Heart Plaza. It’s Malcolm Alexander’s “Unknown First Family”. It’s a nicely done piece surrounded by a fountain and flower beds.
Across the river is the Immaculate Conception Church, the first Catholic Church built in the region. I would have loved to have peaked inside, but a mass was being held when we visited so I moved on. The church is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.
I was a little surprised to see the following sign on church property, but after continuing my walk, the reason was apparent. There were dozens of drunks hanging around downtown — a sad spectacle really. Unfortunately most were Aboriginal people.
Like most cities, there is a bike service, Fairbikes, Not sure how popular it is, given the short summer season.
A few of the businesses we saw downtown….
And finally a reminder that Fairbanks is a dot of civilization in a massive wilderness. It’s common for moose and other wildlife to stroll into town. Moose (known as elk to Europeans), have unpredictable temperament and can easily kill you if they don’t like you.
