Knik Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Knik Site
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The surviving cabin at Knik
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 Location in Alaska
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| Location | Along South Knik Goose Bay Road, about 13 miles (21 km) southwest of Wasilla, Alaska |
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| Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) |
| Built | 1898 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000379 |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1973 |
The Knik Site (pronounced "K'enakatnu" in the Dena'ina language) is a special place in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska. It was once the biggest town on Cook Inlet. Today, only a few old buildings remain. These include a log roadhouse, which is now a museum, and another log cabin. Knik is about 13 miles (21 km) southwest of Wasilla, Alaska.
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A Look Back at Knik's History
Knik was an important meeting spot for Native Alaskans for a long time. In 1898, it became the main place where goods were shipped from Cook Inlet into the Alaskan interior. This made Knik a very busy and important community.
The Rise and Fall of Knik
For many years, Knik was the center of trade and travel in the area. People would bring goods by boat to Knik. From there, the goods would be sent further inland. This made Knik a lively town with many businesses and people.
However, things changed in 1916. The Alaska Railroad started building its tracks. When the railroad reached the site of present-day Anchorage, it bypassed Knik. This meant that goods could now be shipped directly to Anchorage by train.
Knik Becomes a Ghost Town
As Anchorage grew, Knik started to lose its importance. When the railroad finally reached Wasilla, Knik was no longer needed as a shipping point. Many people left Knik to move to the new railroad towns.
Some buildings were simply abandoned. Others were carefully moved to nearby communities like Wasilla. This is how Knik slowly became what is known as a ghost town.
What's Left Today?
Today, only two buildings from the old Knik townsite are still standing. One is a log roadhouse, which was like a hotel and restaurant for travelers. This roadhouse is now a museum run by the Wasilla-Knik Historical Society. The other is a simple log cabin.
These two buildings are very important. They help us remember what Knik was like long ago. In 1973, they were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are protected because of their historical value.
