Pioneer Park (Fairbanks, Alaska) facts for kids
Pioneer Park is a super cool place in Fairbanks, Alaska, where you can explore the exciting history of Alaska! It's a big city park, about 44 acres, managed by the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Imagine a park filled with museums and old buildings that tell amazing stories from the past.
You'll find Pioneer Park right next to the Chena River. There's even a path along the river that connects the park to other fun spots in downtown Fairbanks. The best part? It's free to enter the park! While some of the museums and attractions inside might have a small fee, just walking around and enjoying the history won't cost you anything. Many shops and food places are open from late May through early September, but the park itself is open all year for you to visit. Plus, there's free Wi-Fi!
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A Look Back: How Pioneer Park Started
Pioneer Park first opened its doors in 1967. It was called the Alaska 67 Centennial Exposition back then. This big event celebrated 100 years since the Alaska Purchase, which is when the United States bought Alaska from Russia.
Later, a mayor named Red Boucher changed the park's name to Alaskaland. But in 2001, people decided to change it again to its current name, Pioneer Park. Why the change? They wanted to make sure visitors knew it wasn't just a regular theme park with roller coasters, but a special place focused on history!
Awesome Things to See and Do
Pioneer Park is packed with cool attractions that bring Alaskan history to life. Here are some of the highlights:
- Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts: This building is a hub for creativity, with a theater, an art gallery, and spaces for meetings.
- Crooked Creek & Whiskey Island Railroad: Hop aboard this fun narrow gauge train! It takes you on a scenic ride all around the park.
- Denali Observation Car: Step inside a historic rail car once used by President Warren G. Harding in 1923. He used it when the Alaska Railroad was officially finished!
- Gold Rush Town: This is like stepping back in time! You can explore 35 old buildings from early Fairbanks, including the very first church and a house owned by a famous judge, James Wickersham. There are also places to grab a bite to eat and find unique gifts.
- Mini Golf Fairbanks: Challenge your friends to a round of mini golf at America's northernmost 18-hole course!
- Mining Valley: See a working replica of a gold rush-era sluice gate, which was used to find gold.
- Pioneer Air Museum: If you love planes, this is the place for you! It's filled with aviation history and features 14 different aircraft.
- Pioneer Hall: This building looks like an old meeting hall. Inside, the Pioneer Museum shows off items from the Gold Rush and has a cool mural called "Big Stampede."
- Replica Alaska Native Village: Learn about the rich culture of Alaska's first people by exploring a village replica with interesting artifacts.
- SS Nenana: This huge sternwheeler boat is like a floating museum! It used to carry people and goods on the Tanana and Yukon rivers. At 230 feet long, it's one of the longest wooden-hulled ships still around.
- Tanana Valley Railroad Museum: Check out the restored 1899 TVRR Engine No. 1, the oldest working steam locomotive in Alaska! Volunteers sometimes even operate it.
Fairbanks Arts Association: Celebrating Creativity
The Fairbanks Arts Association is a group that helps promote art in Interior Alaska. It started way back in 1966 and is the oldest community arts council in the state! They support local artists and art groups.
You can visit their gallery and main office on the third floor of the Alaska Centennial Center for Arts, right in Pioneer Park. It's open all year! They also have special programs, like "Artists-in-Schools," where artists visit schools to teach about music, dance, traditional Alaska Native art, and digital arts. Another program, "Very Special Arts (VSA)," brings students with special needs to Pioneer Park for fun, hands-on art experiences.
The Folk School: Learning New Skills
The Folk School is a non-profit organization that offers classes where you can learn all sorts of hands-on skills. Imagine learning woodworking, outdoor survival skills, or traditional crafts!
This school follows a tradition started in Denmark, where everyone learns from each other in a friendly, open way. The Folk School has been around since the early 2000s and moved to Pioneer Park in 2018, making it a great place to pick up a new hobby.
