The 1930s brought Alaska out of the Gold Rush and into the future, and many residents that arrived in a hurry took time to settle in. The homesteads grew closer together and people built shops, restaurants and community gathering places. Soon, little Alaskan towns start to resemble the rest of the U.S., at least in a few small ways. Take a peek into the 1930s in Alaska and see what it was like in a simpler time.
- Riverboats
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1985-98-995 During the summers when the mighty rivers were flowing, people traveled up and down the Yukon on riverboats. This easy mode of transportation would make stops at all the villages up and down, delivering letters, supplies, visitors and new residents to the villages along the banks.
- Steam shovel
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-2007-64-485 Gold mining was still in it’s heyday, and construction of Alaska’s roads and towns was in full swing. A steam shovel helped loosen cold and frozen ground so it could be mined for gold or relocated for a constructing a foundation.
- Muddy Roads
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1981-91-12 Before the roads were paved, the early automobiles in Alaska headed up and down muddy, bumpy, rough roads. Although the major centers have highways and byways these days, not much has changed off the beaten path.
- Airfield
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1988-164-CO5 One of the first things constructed in any Alaskan town or village is the airstrip to get supplies in and out by plane. To this day, many remote areas are only accessible by plane and boat.
- Wharf
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1985-122-1051 Any town on the water was usually reached by boat. Wharfs, docks and piers provided places for the boats to enter and exit the communities, and the quality of the access from the water often determined how successful a townsite became.
- Organic Architecture
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1985-122-1028 As people have found their place in the insane conditions Alaska has to offer, towns and communities adapted to the demands. These homes were built into a less windy spot and nestled into the cliffs for protection from the sea and storms.
- Dance Hall
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1985-122-1108 Winters are long and the people of Alaska have always filled the dark nights with dancing and music. Any community of a few people would create a common area where people could let off some steam by beating a drum and letting loose.
- Log Cabins
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-2000-181-123 The first step any prospector or homesteader made at the time is to get some land, clear a spot, and build a cabin. Most people lived in small, cozy log cabins made from local timber, sweat and tears.
- Ice Fishing Spot
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-2000-181-3 People still lived a largely subsistence lifestyle in the 1930s, and in Alaskan that means lots of fishing. Ice fishing was, and still is, popular as a pastime, but in the past fishing was a vital activity for survival.
- Bridges
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-2007-64-578 Bridges were being constructed right and left to provide access for vehicles all over the great land, especially to get resources in and out of rural communities. The roads needed to transit the many rivers, streams and sloughs that criss-cross the frontier.
- Artifacts
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1990-2-16 In this time of discovery, exploration and construction, precious and ancient items were being unearthed all over the place. Museums and universities for scientific research were starting so people knew where to send their finds.
Although Alaska has moved forward in many ways, the people who live in the rough and wild arctic always have, and probably always will, enjoy the wilderness. Although the 1930s was a simpler time, life is still challenging and exciting in the last frontier.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1985-98-995
During the summers when the mighty rivers were flowing, people traveled up and down the Yukon on riverboats. This easy mode of transportation would make stops at all the villages up and down, delivering letters, supplies, visitors and new residents to the villages along the banks.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-2007-64-485
Gold mining was still in it’s heyday, and construction of Alaska’s roads and towns was in full swing. A steam shovel helped loosen cold and frozen ground so it could be mined for gold or relocated for a constructing a foundation.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1981-91-12
Before the roads were paved, the early automobiles in Alaska headed up and down muddy, bumpy, rough roads. Although the major centers have highways and byways these days, not much has changed off the beaten path.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1988-164-CO5
One of the first things constructed in any Alaskan town or village is the airstrip to get supplies in and out by plane. To this day, many remote areas are only accessible by plane and boat.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1985-122-1051
Any town on the water was usually reached by boat. Wharfs, docks and piers provided places for the boats to enter and exit the communities, and the quality of the access from the water often determined how successful a townsite became.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1985-122-1028
As people have found their place in the insane conditions Alaska has to offer, towns and communities adapted to the demands. These homes were built into a less windy spot and nestled into the cliffs for protection from the sea and storms.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1985-122-1108
Winters are long and the people of Alaska have always filled the dark nights with dancing and music. Any community of a few people would create a common area where people could let off some steam by beating a drum and letting loose.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-2000-181-123
The first step any prospector or homesteader made at the time is to get some land, clear a spot, and build a cabin. Most people lived in small, cozy log cabins made from local timber, sweat and tears.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-2000-181-3
People still lived a largely subsistence lifestyle in the 1930s, and in Alaskan that means lots of fishing. Ice fishing was, and still is, popular as a pastime, but in the past fishing was a vital activity for survival.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-2007-64-578
Bridges were being constructed right and left to provide access for vehicles all over the great land, especially to get resources in and out of rural communities. The roads needed to transit the many rivers, streams and sloughs that criss-cross the frontier.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Archives | UAF-1990-2-16
In this time of discovery, exploration and construction, precious and ancient items were being unearthed all over the place. Museums and universities for scientific research were starting so people knew where to send their finds.
Do you remember anything about the Alaska of the past? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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