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Fairbanks Alaska Photos

The Riverboat Discovery travels the Chena river near the Pump House restaurant. © Patrick J. Endres

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Fairbanks Alaska photos

Fairbanks' history is strongly connected with the Chena river, which flows through town. © Patrick J. Endres

Fairbanks is located in the heart of Alaska's interior and dubs itself as the Golden Heart City, serving as the gateway to Alaska's Interior and Arctic. With a population of close to 32,000, Fairbanks' citizenry reaches to 82,000 when including the surrounding Fairbanks North Star Borough. Situated at 64.837N degrees latitude, at an elevation of approximately 400 feet, the town is transected by the Chena river, with the larger Tanana river flowing nearby.

Gold and Fairbanks

Fairbanks, Alaska and the surrounding areas were struck by gold fever in 1902. For many, the fever is still alive, and the city remains a testament to the mining spirit. © Patrick J. Endres

Pedro soon discovered a rich claim, which began a full-fledged stampede by 1904. Barnette’s trading post grew into a town and, within five years, Fairbanks was the largest and busiest city in Alaska. From the 1920s to the 1950s, prospectors and sluice boxes were followed by huge gold dredges moving through the valleys and creek beds surrounding Fairbanks, Alaska. The claims around Fairbanks, Alaska ultimately produced more gold than the strikes in Dawson or Nome.

World Ice Art Championships

Good Omen, title of the award winning Single Block Ice Sculpture by Vladimir Zhikartsev, lit by colored lights at night, Fairbanks. © Patrick J. Endres

The event in Fairbanks begins with a single block competition that consists of smaller but no less spectacular sculptures. Later the multi-block competition begins, which can often be a mad rush against time, with teams of carvers working together all through the night. For the kids, a play area is constructed with slides and mazes and spinning chairs, all created from ice! Quick search for Ice Art photos

The Aurora Borealis: (Northern Lights)

Aurora borealis swirls across the sky over the White Mountains National Recreation Area log cabin, north of Fairbanks, Alaska. © Patrick J. Endres

Due to its northerly latitude and its position under the Van Allen Belt, Fairbanks, Alaska is one world's foremost locations for viewing the aurora borealis, or northern lights. In Fairbanks, The aurora can be seen an average of 250 nights a year, with the greatest occurrence around the spring and the fall equinoxes. The aurora can be viewed in clear skies all throughout the dark months of the winter. The aurora is active nearly every day of the year, but can not be seen in the summer due to the lack of darkness. Learn more on our Aurora Borealis page.

The Gateway to the Arctic

Known as the golden heart of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska is also considered the gateway to the arctic, being just a short drive from the arctic circle. Here, marked by a sign, people can view the first latitude where the sun does not set one day a year on December 21st, and does not rise one day a year, on June 21st. These dates are known as the winter and summer solstice.

The Yukon Quest

Musher Jennifer Cochran in Fairbanks on the Chena river at the start of the 1000 mile Yukon Quest sled dog race 2006, between Fairbanks, Alaska and Whitehorse, Yukon. Dubbed the toughest dogsled race in the world. © Patrick J. Endres

The 1,000 mile Yukon Quest is a unique cross border sled dog race, running between Whitehorse, Yukon and Fairbanks, Alaska.

The race highlights the special relationships that exist between mushers and their dogs. There is no other race like the Yukon Quest. It is not a staged race but a true distance race. Mushers cannot replace sleds during the race and cannot have stoves and equipment flown into any of the checkpoints. With distances between checkpoints sometimes over 200 miles, they must carry many of their supplies with them. Mushers in the Quest must truly challenge the northern wilderness on their own. The race represents a rare opportunity to see northern working dogs in their element.

Festival of Native Arts

The Festival of Native Arts has become one of the interior's greatest celebrations of Alaska Native culture. Dance groups and artists from all around Alaska come to perform and sell arts and crafts. © Patrick J. Endres

This tradition began in 1973, when a group of University of Alaska Fairbanks students and faculty (representing a variety of colleges and departments) met to consider a spring festival focused on the artistic expressions of each Alaska Native culture. In less than three months, perhaps for the first time in Alaska, Native artists, craftspeople and dancers from all major Native culture groups gathered together at UAF to share with each other, the University community and Fairbanks their rich artistic traditions. Festival of Native Arts

University of Alaska Museum of the North

Nationally recognized architect Joan Soranno and the GDM/HGA architectural team designed the museum to convey a sense of Alaska, with innovative lines and spaces evoking images of alpine ridges, glaciers, breakup on the Yukon River and the aurora. © Patrick J. Endres

The University of Alaska Museum, located at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is a major resource center for the public and for scholars. The Museum's mission is to acquire, conserve, investigate, and interpret specimens and collections relating to the natural, artistic, and cultural heritage of Alaska and the Circumpolar North. Through education, research, and public exhibits, the Museum serves the state, national, and international science programs. The Museum develops and uses botanical, geological, zoological, and cultural collections; these collections form the basis for understanding past and present issues unique to the North and meeting the challenges of the future.

World Eskimo Indian Olympics

Each July in Fairbanks, Alaska, the World Eskimo Indian Olympics are held. Spectators watch the following and more:

• One-foot high kick
• Toe kick
• One-hand reach
• Kneel jump
• Knuckle hop
• Seal hop
• Eskimo stick pull
• Scissors broad jump
• Blanket toss
• Four man carry
• Fish cutting contest
• Seal skinning contest
• Eskimo Dance team competition

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The Alaska railroad travels between Anchorage and Fairbanks, a choice mode of travel for summer tourists.

Related links:

Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau

Yukon Quest 1000 mile dog sled race

Ice Alaska

UAF Geophysical Institute Aurora Index

World Eskimo - Indian Olympics

River's Edge Resort

Grand View B & B