Circa 1911-1920, mushing during breakup near Nome. Article on breakup out later today. #alaskahistory #alaska

1940, the Nenana Ice Classic tripod on the move. That year, it tipped on April 20, after a warm winter and wildly early, especially then. That date has since been tied once (1998) and beaten once (2019). Article on breakup later today. Via Anchorage Museum #alaskahistory #alaska

"Life in Alaska (Spring)" cartoon about the spring melt/pothole road situation in Anchorage by Don Coolidge from his 1949 Cheechako Chuckles book. #alaskahistory #anchoragehistory #alaska

1979 "Spring Ritual" print by Keith Appel. #alaskahistory #alaska

1979 "Spring Beckons" print by Ree Nancarrow. Via Anchorage Museum. #alaskahistory #alaska

Circa 1975 "Salute to Spring" acrylic on canvas by Saradell Ard. Via Anchorage Museum. #alaskahistory #alaska

1981 "Spring Cleanup 1916" watercolor by Byron Birdsall, depicting breakup season in early Anchorage. Jacob "Russian Jack" Marunenko was the proprietor of the Montana for a while. My next article, going up tomorrow, is about breakup. Via Anchorage Museum. #alaskahistory #alaska

1898, a prospector rests for a moment outside his tent. He was likely bound for the Klondike, head full with dreams of gold. Photo by Asahel Curtis, via Washington State History Museum. #alaskahistory #alaska

The steamer Mariechen wrecked on rocks off Chichagof Island on January 24, 1906. It was a smuggling, blockade runner bound for Russia. The extreme possible profits were why it was attempting a dangerous winter run. Via Washington State History Museum. #alaskahistory #alaska

Frederick Cook (1865-1940) claimed to summit Denali in 1906. A hoax, his supposed photo evidence was an outcropping (Fake Peak) nearly 15k ft below summit. Claimed to reach North Pole in 1908, almost certainly also a lie. Later convicted of stock fraud. #alaskahistory #alaska

The "Cabin fever" idiom traces back to B.M. Bower's novel Cabin Fever, first published in a 1917 issue of Popular Magazine, then as a standalone book in 1918. Bower explains the concept in the first paragraph. Now I'm writing about the origin of "breakup." #alaskahistory #alaska

1899 mule train in Box Canyon on the White Pass Trail. Pack animals were typically over-packed & abused during Klondike Gold Rush. Thousands died on the trails from Dyea and Skagway into Canada. Via Washington State History Museum #alaskahistory #alaska

The Silent City was a 19th century hoax perpetrated by Richard Willoughby, who claimed this image was a reflection of a Russian city captured at Glacier Bay. It's actually Bristol, England. Still, Alaskans claimed phantom city sightings as late as 1928. #alaskahistory #alaska

From an August 1, 1982 Anchorage Times article about New Wave styles reaching Alaska, two particularly fashionable Anchorage residents. #alaskahistory #alaska

Skatefest '84 Alaska satin jacket. Skatefest was a touring figure skating promotion led by 1976 Olympic gold medalist Dorothy Hamill. They performed at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage on June 2 and 3, 1984. Via Etsy. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory

Circa 1980s satin jacket for the Lonely Lady strip club of Fairbanks. The building, also home to the Showboat, Show Girls, and the 49er Club over the years, burned down in 2017. #alaskahistory #alaska

Circa 1960 Anchorage car club jackets. The Demons were very into drag racing, with the big races at an abandoned Air Force runway at Tanacross. Drag strips opened at Palmer in 1964 and Anchorage in 1965. Via Gator's Vintage (Los Angeles). #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory

Sep 23, 1956, entrance to the Juneau Municipal Airport. #alaskahistory #alaska

Frank Stagno and his airboat in 1980s Fairbanks. In 1985, friends bet him $200 that he couldn't drive his airboat on land to the Lonely Lady strip club on Airport Way. He almost made it but melted the boat bottom off and got a drunk driving charge. #alaskahistory #alaska

"Ask Me About Anchorage" was an early 1970s Chamber of Commerce initiative. Residents were supposed to wear these as a way of making tourists feel welcome and free to ask questions. Would it be too silly I wore this everywhere? Via Ebay. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory

November 1916, Anchorage red-light district, around what is now Valley of the Moon Park area. Each little building was a solo brothel operation, aka crib house. Shortly after this photo, area was dismantled for being on national forest land. #alaskahistory #alaska

In 1973 two Anchorage Daily News journalists applied undercover at massage parlors, which were actually brothels. One madam said, "We actually like to hire inexperienced girls." Expected pay $700-800 in busy weeks (≈$5,000-6,000 in 2026). #alaskahistory #anchoragehistory #alaska

The first three Walmart stores in Alaska opened on the same day: March 29, 1994. This was the Wasilla, midtown Anchorage, and south Anchorage locations. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory

Circa 1981 Alaskan scene painting by Bob Ross (1942-1995). This was likely painted while he was still in the Air Force and stationed in Alaska. This one recently sold for $254,500 at Bonhams. #alaskahistory #alaska

Moss-covered antlers in Southeast Alaska by photographer Michio Hoshino (1952-1996). Undated but from the 2007 book, Hoshino's Alaska. #alaskahistory #alaska

2025 "Alaskan Rain Bear" by photographer George Dian Balan. Via Heritage Auctions. #alaskahistory #alaska

(With song this time) Of course someone released a song about the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake, Blue Ervin's 1964 "Alaska Earthquake. Ervin C. Elswick was an Army sergeant stationed in Anchorage at the time. He also had a country gospel hour radio show here. #alaskahistory #alaska

Downtown Anchorage damage shortly after March 27, 1964 Good Friday Earthquake. This is looking south. K St to left, L St to right, 4th Ave at bottom. Bottom right is the Snow City building, which survived. #alaskahistory #alaska #anchoragehistory

National Guardsman patrols Anchorage with bayonet affixed after March 27, 1964 Good Friday Earthquake. Fearing looting, one of the APD chief's first actions after quake was to deputize strangers & hand out guns, with makeshift armbands for identification. #alaskahistory #alaska

Circa 1950-1962 stunning Ellis Airlines bowling shirt. Alaska Airlines acquired Ellis in 1968. Via Tongass Historical Museum. #alaskahistory #alaska #ketchikan