delta junction
Commemorative milepost for the end of the Alaska Highway
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elta Junction marks the true end of the Alaska Highway and has a population of approximately 850. This area was a traditional hunting territory of the Athabaskan Indians for thousands of years. The town is spread out around the Alaska and Richardson Highways and from here, going north or south, you will be traveling on the Richardson Highway. In 1903, what was to become the Richardson Highway, was built from Valdez to Fairbanks because of the discovery of gold in Fairbanks. A road house was built at the junction of the Delta and Tanana Rivers to supply the gold seekers, and a telegraph station was built in 1904 to aid increased communication needs. This trail used a portion of the Valdez Eagle trail made famous by the Klondike Gold Rush. The Chisana Gold Rush of 1913 and Delta’s selection in 1920 as the home of the government’s buffalo importation program helped establish the town as a permanent settlement. The Bison Sanctuary is a 90,000-acre tract of land which contains a free-roaming herd of more than 500 bison. Pogo Mine is an underground gold mine 40 air miles from Delta Junction. The mine began production in April 2007 and employs over 300 people. It was scheduled to operate for 10 years, however production is now expected to continue much longer. More than 3.8 million ounces have been mined since opening, making it the eighth largest gold mine in the U.S.
The milepost monument, at the Visitor Center, marks the end of the Alaska Highway and is an excellent photo opportunity. Certificates for completing the Alaska Highway are available. 907-895-5068
Visitor Info Delta Junction Visitor Information Center at the junction of the Richardson and the Alaska Highway. Stop in for comprehensive visitors information and a selection of souvenirs including Delta Junction pins. Open daily 9-5:30, Memorial Day through mid-September. www.BellsAlaska.com
Interior Alaska
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