Fairbanks, Alaska

Located in the heart of Alaska's Interior, Fairbanks the states 2nd largest city is approximately 1.488 driving miles north of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, the start of the Alaska Highway.

In 1901, Captain E.T. Barnette set out from St. Michael on the stern-wheeler "Lavelle Young" traveling up the Yukon River with supplies for his trading post which he proposed to set up at Tanana Crossing, the halfway point on the Valdez-Eagle trail. But the stern-wheeler could not navigate the fast-moving shallow Chena River.

In September 1902, Barnette convinced the 25 or so miners in the area to use the name "Fairbanks" for the town that he expected would grow up around his trading post.

On June 27, 2009, the State of Alaska celebrated it's 50th anniversary as a State of The United States.

Today, we went to see the Large Animal Research Center of the University of Alaska. This is where they are doing research on the Muskox, Caribou and Reindeer. The difference between Caribou and Reindeer is that Caribou are wild and Reindeer are tame. Both of these have antlers and the female keeps her antlers during the winter season which makes her "boss" then.

We also went to see the University Museum of the North. It was very interesting but the bad part of it is they would not permit the use of flash cameras in the museum. Thank goodness for my Canon DSLR camera and I was able to take some non-flash pictures I hope you like them.