Featured
64 YEARS
by Amy Geiger · 1 Comment
64 years is a long time. The Open North American Sled Dog Race has been around for just that, 64 years. Fairbanks has been home to sled dog racing since the turn of the century. A myriad of interesting races came stayed for awhile evolved into something new or expired altogether. The Open North American Sled Dog Race was born in the aftermath of World War II and is still going strong.
This year, 2010, on March 19th, 20th and 21st, the Open North American plans to bring back a lot of the exuberance of years past. The Downtown Association of Fairbanks, the Fairbanks Arts Association, Winter Carnival, Ice Alaska and the Alaska Dog Mushing Association are all working together to bring folks downtown to see the race and join in the excitement.
One way downtowners can help is by contributing prizes for us to give away during the Open North American Sled Dog Race weekend. Please consider making a prize contribution to this grand, 64 year old Fairbanks tradition.
Stay tuned for more information in the next Downtowner.
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Lived in Fairbanks when it was still a territory. My first son was born at what was then Ladd AFB Hospital.
I remember driving up the Alcan Highway in August 1956 and back down the Alcan in November 1957.
The Peace River bridge had collapsed. We had to drive down a graval road for miles then take a small ferry across the river, with one 9 month old baby in the back seat and another in the oven. Back in those days there was nothing much to do in Fairbanks. I did work at Monty’s Dept. store for awhile. And I remember when Bob Hope came to Ladd – and when “Queen For a Day” was filmed in downtown Fairbanks. I stood in the cold watching the show. Many fond memories including the state song – “EIght stars of Gold on a Field of Blue.”