We have left Riverview RV Park behind and moved to the Fairbanks Elks Lodge for the next few days. Cottonwood trees are blooming and their cottony covered seeds are flying through the air like snow. The view out our window is the peacefully flowing Chena River. Dozens of rafts, kayaks, canoes and speed boats travel down the river until the wee hours of the morning now that the sun is up most of 24/7. The river is a much more enjoyable view out our front window than the row upon row of RV’s covered with the constantly blowing dust that we saw at the RV park.
Ventured out today and took a drive to the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum in Fairbanks. Air conditioning and being indoors were my primary concerns with dust and pollen still blowing everywhere so the museum fit into the plan. For a small fee, we spent the next two hours learning about automotive history in Alaska, watching short clips from the 20’s and 30’s, viewing beautifully restored auto’s and period clothing replete with striking jewelry and a full assortment of accessories. The self-guided tour was interesting although lacking in any comic relief. It was easy to move through the 3,000 square museum and chairs were placed every so often to sit and reflect while watching the silent movie clips. 20’s and 30’s music played in the background. A glass enclosed office and workshop was located in the back of the museum. You could see an auto being restored and many parts from other restored pieces were spread out on the counters.
The 1898 Hay Motor Vehicle is the earliest known American made four cylinder gas powered automobile in existence. This pre-1900 automobile never made it into production due to its flawed engine design. Every piece of this proto-type was completely handcrafted except for the tires.
Alaska’s first automobile was built by 22 year old Robert “Bobby” Sheldon. At 18, he had never seen a car but believed he could win the heart of a young lady by building one giving him the edge over her other suitor, a doctor’s son who drove a horse and fancy carriage. He earned recognition in Ripley’s Believe-it-or-Not from the adventure. Armed with only pictures from magazines, he built a wooden frame, attached buggy wheels, used bar room chairs for seats, salvaged an engine from a sunken boat, added gears and built a chain drive. He built a tiller from sections of gas pipe, tin and oil cloth was used for a hood and trunk cover.
Although he took the girl for many rides, he did not marry her. “No” he said, a number of years later, “but three other fellows have married her since then.” He became Alaska’s foremost automotive transportation pioneer. In 1934 he donated this car to the University of Alaska Museum.
The 1932 American “Baby” Austin was the car of choice for W.C. Fields, Buster Keaton, the “Our Gang” kids and was featured in one of Mickey Mouse’s earliest movies.
My favorite was the long low swanky looking front wheel drive Cord. Frank Lloyd Wright and Mary Pickford owned one of these impressive looking auto’s but unluckily for the manufacturer, it came out only two years before the 1929 crash so not many were sold.
A very enjoyable afternoon and well worth the cost of the entrance fee. The museum is located at the back of a huge conference complex, the Wedgwood Resort, and has a nature path, examples of early settlers bush cabins and a bush plane on the property as well. We plan to return to see the balance tomorrow.
Next afternoon we headed back over to view the most popular bush pilot plane in Alaska. This 1946 Model 7A Aeronca Champion was better known as “the Champ”. Used by Alaskan miners and trappers in the 40’s and 50’s, it was designed to take over the post war trainer market from the Piper J-3 Cub. It was the longest selling, most popular light plane design of all time because of its ability to easily take off and land in Alaska’s wilderness and could be fitted with wheels, floats or skis. You can still find variations of this plane today.
The Alaskan Bush Cabin was next to the area where the plane was tethered. It had a storage cabin and a sled dog house out back. The three were constructed with the same tools and supplies that would have been used in the 1900’s. None of these bush cabins were accessible from roads. Supplies were brought in by sled. They were built in less than a week and used for stop overs for traveling trappers and miners along their routes. The roofs were made of canvas placed over the log roof and dirt piled on top for insulation from the winter snows. Can’t imagine how they ever kept these little cabins warm in minus temps.
