National Register of Historic Places listings in Denali National Park and Preserve facts for kids
Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska is a huge and wild place, home to North America's tallest mountain, Denali. But it's not just about nature! It also has many important historical sites. These special places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect buildings, structures, and areas that are important to American history.
Contents
- What is the National Register of Historic Places?
- Historic Places in Denali National Park
- Ranger Cabins and Shelters
- Ewe Creek Ranger Cabin No. 8
- Igloo Creek Cabin No. 25
- Lower East Fork Ranger Cabin No. 9
- Lower Toklat River Ranger Cabin No. 18
- Lower Windy Creek Ranger Cabin No. 15
- Moose Creek Ranger Cabin No. 19
- Riley Creek Ranger Cabin No. 20
- Sanctuary River Cabin No. 31
- Sushana River Ranger Cabin No. 17
- Toklat Ranger Station-Pearson Cabin No. 4
- Upper East Fork Cabin No. 29
- Upper Toklat River Cabin No. 24
- Upper Windy Creek Ranger Cabin No. 7
- Other Important Historic Sites
- Ranger Cabins and Shelters
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is like a special club for historic places in the United States. It's run by the National Park Service. When a place is added to this list, it means it's recognized as being important to the history of a state or the whole country.
Being on the National Register helps protect these places. It encourages people to preserve them for future generations. In Denali National Park, there are 18 places listed. These include old ranger cabins, historic roads, and even an archeological site. They tell stories about how people lived and worked in this amazing wilderness long ago.
Historic Places in Denali National Park
Many of the historic places in Denali are old cabins and buildings. These were often used by park rangers or early settlers. They show us what life was like in the park's early days.
Ranger Cabins and Shelters
Many small cabins are listed on the National Register. These were often used by park rangers who patrolled the vast wilderness. They provided shelter and a base for rangers working far from headquarters.
Ewe Creek Ranger Cabin No. 8
This cabin is located about 5 miles (8 km) downstream from the Savage River. It was built to help rangers patrol this part of the park. It was added to the list in 1986.
Igloo Creek Cabin No. 25
You can find this cabin near Igloo Creek, about 34.1 miles (54.9 km) north of the main Park Road. It's another example of the simple shelters rangers used. It joined the list in 1986.
Lower East Fork Ranger Cabin No. 9
This cabin is about 25 miles (40 km) downstream on the eastern fork of the Toklat River. It was an important outpost for rangers. It was listed in 1986.
Lower Toklat River Ranger Cabin No. 18
Located about 30 miles (48 km) north of the Park Road on the Toklat River, this cabin helped rangers cover a large area. It became a historic place in 1986.
Lower Windy Creek Ranger Cabin No. 15
This cabin is found east of Mile 324 on the Alaska Railroad. It's a reminder of how important the railroad was for accessing the park. It was listed in 1986.
Moose Creek Ranger Cabin No. 19
About 5 miles (8 km) north of Mile 73.8 on the Park Road, this cabin served rangers patrolling the Moose Creek area. It was added to the list in 1986.
Riley Creek Ranger Cabin No. 20
This cabin is about 5 miles (8 km) west of Mile 336 on the Alaska Railroad. It's another example of the remote shelters used by park staff. It was listed in 1986.
Sanctuary River Cabin No. 31
You can find this cabin on the Sanctuary River, about 22.7 miles (36.5 km) south of the Park Road. It's one of the many cabins that helped rangers do their job. It joined the list in 1986.
Sushana River Ranger Cabin No. 17
This cabin is about 10 miles (16 km) north of Mile 25 on the Park Road. It was used by rangers to patrol the Sushana River area. It was listed in 1986.
Toklat Ranger Station-Pearson Cabin No. 4
This station is near the main branch of the Toklat River, about 53.8 miles (86.6 km) west of the Park Road. It served as a more substantial base for rangers. It was added to the list in 1986.
Upper East Fork Cabin No. 29
This cabin is near the eastern fork of the Toklat River, about 43 miles (69 km) south of the Park Road. It's another historic ranger cabin. It was listed in 1986.
Upper Toklat River Cabin No. 24
Located near the main branch of the Toklat River, about 53.7 miles (86.4 km) west of the Park Road, this cabin is also a historic ranger shelter. It was added to the list in 1986.
Upper Windy Creek Ranger Cabin No. 7
This cabin is about 6 miles (9.7 km) west of Cantwell and south of Windy Creek. It was another important outpost for park rangers. It was listed in 1986.
Other Important Historic Sites
Beyond the ranger cabins, Denali National Park also has other types of historic places. These include old roadhouses, park headquarters, and even ancient sites.
Kantishna Roadhouse
The Kantishna Roadhouse is located about 0.1 miles (0.16 km) west of Mile 91 of the Denali Park Road. Roadhouses were places where travelers could stop for food and rest. This one was added to the list in 2018.
Mount McKinley National Park Headquarters District
This historic district is found at Mile 3.4 on the McKinley Park Highway. It includes the original buildings that served as the park's main office and living quarters for staff. It was listed in 1987.
Mount McKinley National Park Road Historic District
This district covers parts of the main park road, starting around Mile 237.3 of the George Parks Highway (AK 3). The road itself is considered historic because of its role in opening up the park. It was added to the list in 2020.
Fannie Quigley House
Fannie Quigley was a famous pioneer woman in Alaska. Her house is located about 270 feet (82 m) northeast of the Kantishna Airstrip, near Mile 92 of the Denali Park Road. Her home tells a story of early life in the wilderness. It was listed in 2019.
Teklanika Archeological District
This district is a special area where scientists have found evidence of ancient human life. It's a restricted area to protect the important findings. It was listed in 1976 and helps us understand the very first people who lived in this region.
