The Land of YESTERDAY, TO AY and TOMORROW LASKA is a great country. Within over s the lure of the north and its the grasp of its unbroken silence, exott ' beauty. its towering peaks and winding have been prepared for this sweet laciers, what mysteries are clenched. trans ion by the fairyland through which Could its hazardous passes, torrential we p s on our northward course. No treams and placid lakes but break their water trip can excel the famous "Inside *knee with speech, what romantic and Passa e" route to Alaska. We started on dventurous tales of intrepid pioneers of the ct, Ise perhaps a bit jaded, laden with •wocat any days would unfold. Standing so good 'things to read, we thought to while mall amid its snow-clad mountains, gaz- away the time. As the beautiful skyline g upon its far flung vista of verdant of Settle faded in the wake of our good Ills, its flowered meadows and wooded ship ( nr cares fell from us as a discarded alleys, a consciousness of humbleness cloaki and sailing the channels, the bays, nd contentment steals over one, and an the f c,ads amidst the islands, and be- admiration for and envy of the adven- tweet qhe snow-capped mountains now turous spirits now classed as discoverers near ow distant, the black-green spruce .s felt as we know something of what they fores of their lower slopes, sometimes ust have experienced, being the first to with. a stone's throw, we settled into a aze upon these scenes. We long for the luxu ous laziness content to look and toned song the silent majestic rivers look, he panorama of natural loveliness ight sing and unaware there has crept eve hanging. Snow-capped ridges EASON 41934 • _ Mt. McKinley by Arctic Darkless Night breast the sea, casting a dreamlike reflection large and luxurious passenger steamers cruise in it. Great peaks are our beacons and mighty along Alaska's majestic coast line via the glaciers answer the deep vibrations of the Inside Passage, Gulf of Alaska, and Prince ship's whistle by casting off great chunks of William Sound; and modern railroads pro- ice of office-building size. Our books are un- vide comfortable transportation from the read. We have been reading first hand from Coast to the very heart of the Northland, nature the story she has been telling for ages. through regions of appalling beauty. We churn our way northward through Interior Alaska. This great stretch of coun- waters warmed by the Japan Current, our lane try holds something of interest to everyone: dotted with happy isles and kissed by the to student, tourist, sportsman, vacationist and snow-capped range to the east leading us to homeseeker. Its mining, forestry, commer- Alaska's ports, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Juneau, cial and agricultural possibilities appeal to Skagwav, Cordova, Valdez and Seward—each the business man and homeseeker; its count- proud of its part in Alaska's history, each rich less streams, lakes, trails, game regions and in achievement or tradition, all sharing in the fine resorts appeal to the sportsman and vaca- development of the Great Country—our own tionist; the opportunities it offers for study Northland. and research work appeal to the archeologist, Alaska Travel Accommodations. There was geologist and other students; the matchless a time when travel to and within Alaska in- scenery and numerous points of interest to all. volved much time and hardship—but that was The Midnight Sun is outstanding as one of 1 during the "Early Days" when sturdy pio- Alaska's exotic natural wonders. 'Most of us neers were blazing trails to Forty Mile, the are apt to forget that within our own coun- Klondike, Circle City, Fairbanks and Nome try's confines this wonder may be observed. gold fields. Times and conditions have In the vicinity of Fairbanks, the northern changed, although the beauty and romance of terminus of the railroad, the midsummer the Northland are still here. Hand in hand nights are darkless and each year on the 21st with Alaska's development in mining, fishing, of June a midnight ball-game is played by fur production, timber and agriculture, have the light of the Midnight Sun. come delightful trails over which visitors motor in modern automobiles; modern and Information regarding Mt. McKinley Na- well-equipped passenger steamers ply the tional Park and the trips that each year attract Yukon and Tanana rivers from Dawson to an increased number of visitors, will be found Nenana, and between Nenana and St. Michael; on following pages. ?age two From Sheltered Seas to Golden Heart and Return Via The Alaska Railroad 150 miles to the northward, on a clear day, THEbanks all-rail and return trip from is a journeySeward crowdedto Fair- mighty Mt. McKinley stands forth in full with surprising and inspiring panoramas glory. of boundless virgin scenery that are beyond Continuing northward from Anchorage the all description of words or illustrations. Few train crosses rivers and canyons, and enters other rail trips compare with it in beauty and the Matanuska Valley, center of a fertile agri- interest. cultural and coal-producing region. A few Kenai Lake, placid and beautiful, set in miles farther on comes beautiful Wasilla Lake, a circle of great, snow-crested mountains, is and then Wasilla, headquarters for gold quartz reached within an hour after the train leaves mining operations in the Willow Creek Coun- Seward. And at Lawing on this lake a moder- try. From Nancy, a few miles north of Wa- ately priced camp provides launches or out- silla, the "Rainy Pass Trail" leads off to the board motor boats for trips to the famous Iditarod and Kuskokwim gold mining dis- trout stream, Russian River. In less than tricts. At Montana, a large silver fox ranch another hour the train is traversing the "Loop" can be seen from the car window. where, in a great oval-shaped depression, the But in the Talkeetna district, outfitting point visitor compares the marvelous works of for mining operations in the Cache Creek Nature with the courage and skill of man, country, comes one of the grandest sights in before the train swings on through canyons the • entire world — Mount McKinley, the to massive and silent Spencer Glacier. The monarch of North American mountains. In rockbound shore of twisting "Turnan•ain"Arm, their native worship the Indians called it that great neck of water having the second "Mt. Denali," meaning "Home of the Sun." greatest tide in the world and scenery that is As the train threads its way along, many other not even surpassed by the better known fjords views of it are obtained, its glistening sides of Norway, is followed for many miles to of snow turned to gold by the sun, while Anchorage. That city rests on a beautiful the storm clouds tumble and roll about its plateau above the waters of historic Cook majestic summit! Inlet, within full view of the never-ending The night is spent at Curry where The row upon row of great mountain ranges and Alaska Railroad maintains Hotel Curry, the peaks that stretch out in all directions. Across finest hotel in Alaska. Here the visitor sleeps, the bay one can see "Little Susitna," a wrapped in the silence of the surrounding volcano-shaped peak of impressiveness, while wilderness; and the following day continues Page three Seward on Resurrection Bay where Steel Rails from Golden Heart Meet Sheltered Seas 1 A Consciousness of Humbleness and Contentment Steals Over One his way northward. The train winds through at Nenana connections are made with the river Indian Creek Canyon and Chulitna Pass, and boats operating to all points on the Tanana and crosses Hurricane Gulch over a 918-foot modern Yukon and their tributaries. steel bridge which, in the center, rests 296 feet Fifty-eight miles beyond Nenana is Fairbanks above Hurricane Creek. Between miles 274 and —Alaska's "Golden Heart," and Interior termi- 279 several more splendid views of Mt. McKinley nus of The Alaska Railroad. This intensely inter- are obtained. The train then traverses the Broad Pass coun- esting city, near which is located the Alaska Col- lege—the northernmost institution of higher edu- try, a region of glorious mountain scenery. cation in the world—is situated in the very center After leaving McKinley Park Station the train of the Tanana Valley, another of Alaska's im- continues to Healy Then comes the important little town of Nenana on the Tanana River, the portant agricultural districts. main tributary of the Yukon. Here the visitor Fairbanks is the center of a large and active will be interested in seeing the great 700-foot gold producing district and here one may witness bridge that spans the Tanana—one of the longest the different methods of gold mining with no single span steel bridges in the world. And here inconvenience. Mt. McKinley National Park Nature's Wonderland in the Heart of Alaska mountain placed on top of Mt. Rainier. Nearby THISuated great in the mountain-crowned very heart of Alaska, region on is The sit- stands Mt. Hunter (elevation 14,960 feet), and Alaska Railroad. It derives its name from Mt. Foraker (elevation 17,000 feet). These three that monarch of all peaks that stands practically snow-clad peaks form a trio of magnificence that in the center of the vast Park area. McKinley, is glorious and beyond compare; and through- the highest mountain in North America, is the out the long Alaska summer days they may be dominating feature of this great northern wonder- seen for miles, their jeweled heads a picture of land.