The Alcan Highway Collection is composed of 24 black & white 2-1/4" x 3-1/4" negatives. We know little about this collection as the negatives were reportedly found and given to the Museum by an unidentified donor with no knowledge of their content. The only information we have about them comes from what can be read or inferred from the images themselves. Signs in the photos indicate they were taken by a U.S. Soldier associated with construction of the Alcan Highway through Canada to Alaska, likely on the 360-mile portion of the road from Fort St. John to Fort Nelson in British Columbia. Location of one photo is identified as Charlie Lake northwest of Fort St. John. Summer images appear to be of construction activities while the winter images may be associated with winter encampment after initial construction was complete. Construction of the 1,700-mile military highway, extending from Dawson Creek, B.C. to Delta Junction, Alaska began March 8, 1942 and was completed October 28, 1942. Its purpose was to provide overland access to Alaska in response to the Japanese invasion there. The road was opened to civilian traffic in 1948. While some may wonder about the relevance of these particular historical photos to the goals of our Museum collection, there is little question about the impact the Alcan Highway has had on our region of Alaska. With its ultimate connection to the Glenn Highway, which runs directly through Palmer, it has supported a military presence but also the importation of all manner of material into the Valley as well as provided a route for residents to access Canada and the States as well.
Alcan 001
Unknown
A soldier poses next to a sign at the beginning of construction of a section of the Alcan highway.
Image is a summer view of a soldier standing beside a wooden sign proclaiming the location of the beginning of construction of a section of the Alcan Highway. A smaller sign to the right shows 0.0, assumed to be the beginning mileage.
B.C. Canada
Alcan 002
Unknown
A Caterpillar tractor is stopped in its activity of clearing the heavy spruce forest for construction of the Alcan Highwat through Canada. The operator is not in sight, the tracks are clogged with mud, and the tractor may well be stuck.
Image is of a Caterpillar tractor, apparently mired in mud as it was clearing evergreen trees from the highway right-of-way. Heavy spruce forest is behind the tractor and the forest continues over hills in the background.
British Columbia, Canada
Alcan 003
Unknown
A Cat tractor pulls a large earth-moving machine, sometimes called a "Scraper", along a dirt pioneer roadway. Several soldiers look on.
Several U.S. Soldiers look on as a Cat tractor pulls a large earth-moving machine along a pioneer dirt road. The large tires on the machine are prominent. The road surface appears muddy. Heavy spruce forest at the edge of the road forms the background.
British Columbia, Canada
Alcan 004
Unknown
Soldiers consider their next move as a large earth moving machine lies tipped on its side in the ditch during construction of the Alcan Highway through Canadian wilderness.
A large earth mover, or "scraper", lies tipped on its side in the ditch during early construction of the Alcan Highway. A Cat tractor is attached in front, two soldiers are evident looking on, and an Army truck is visible on the pioneer road in middle ground. Heavy spruce forest is obvious on both sides of the road and on a hill in background.
British Columbia, Canada
Alcan 005
Unknown
A large earth-moving machine is tipped on its side at the edge of the road under construction. A cat tractor that was pulling the machine sits idle while a soldier looks on.
A large earth-moving machine lies tipped on its side in the ditch during early construction of the Alcan Highway. A cat tractor is attached to it by a cable and a soldier looks on.
British Columbia, Canada
Alcan 006
Unknown
An Army truck, probably used to haul men and material along the developing Alcan Highway, is seen on a section of the road through heavy spruce forest with two soldiers in back.
Photo is a near image of the front of an Army truck with an open stake bed behind with two soldiers standing in it. Heavy forest of tall spruce trees is in foreground on both sides and in back.
British Columbia, Canada
Alcan 007
Unknown
U.S. soldiers with an army truck are stopped at the general store in Charlie Lake, B.C. during construction of the Alcan Highway.
An army stake-bed truck is parked in front of a store with a high false front and an overhead sign reading "R.C. SOMAN, CHARLIE LAKE GENERAL STORE". The truck has tire chains on the front set of duel rear tires and the ground has water puddles. There appear to be snow patches and leafless trees in background indicating either late spring or early fall.
British Columbia, Canada
Alcan 008
Unknown
A temporary bridge on pontoon boats across a body of water is viewed from the hill above the road.
A temporary Army bridge on pontoon boats across a body of water is viewed from a hill up above. The cleared road right-of- way is visible on the far side. Spruce trees are silhouetted in foreground and heavy broadleaf forest covers the hills in middle and background.
British Columbia, Canada
Alcan 009
Unknown
Soldiers take a break from work on the Alcan Highway construction.
Four U.S. Soldiers associated with construction of the Alcan Highway take a break beside the right-of-way clearing. Slashed trees and root wads are behind them with standing spruce trees beyond.
British Columbia, Canada
Alcan 010
Unknown
Soldiers take a break in front of a log trappers cabin.
U.S. Soldiers pose in front of a log trappers cabin located among large evergreen trees close at hand. The sod-roofed cabin is brightly sunlit within the shadowed forest.
British Columbia, Canada
Alcan 011
Unknown
A soldier, assumed to be associated with the Alcan Highway construction, lounges on a Canadian car.
A U.S. Soldier is leaning on the front fender of a car with a Canadian license plate in foreground. Two wood-sided buildings form the middle ground behind and tree tops are visible beyond. The car is missing its right front tire.
British Columbia, Canada
Alcan 012
Unknown
Two soldiers stand in front of the Pomeroy Hotel. One is dressed in his dress uniform and holding a small travel bag and may be waiting for a ride to leave.
Two U.S. Soldiers, assumed to be associated with the Alcan Highway construction, stand in front of the Pomeroy Hotel in Fort St. John, BC, Canada. One man is dressed in his dress uniform and holding a small travel bag and is assumed to be leaving or has just arrived. Other two-story buildings are near the hotel. Three trucks are parked in front of the hotel and several men are standing near the hotel entrance.
St. John, BC, Canada
Alcan 013
Unknown
A U.S. Soldier stands behind a sign indicating the section of the Alcan Highway to Fort St. John is apparently completed.
A summer view of a U.S. Soldier standing behind a sign next to a road at left seen disappearing into the forest in background. Lettering on the sign reads," CANADIAN-ALASKAN, MILITARY HIGHWAY, FORT NELSON 360 MILES". This sign stands in approximately the same location as another sign seen in a different photo in the collection indicating the start of construction on the Ft. St. James to Ft. St. John section of the Alcan Highway as evidenced by the two spruce trees behind the soldier. It also appears to be the same soldier as in the earlier photo.
British Columbia, Canada
Alcan 014
Unknown
A soldier is standing in the snow next to a traffic control station on the Alcan Highway.
A winter scene of a soldier standing in the snow next to a sign stating "ALCAN HIGHWAY, STOP, CONTROL STATION, MILE 53". It's assumed this is early winter somewhere north of Fort St. John, Canada.
B.C., Canada
Alcan 015
Unknown
A soldier stands on a wide highway, possibly the Richardson Highway near the north end of the Alcan.
A winter scene with a soldier standing in the middle of a wide, plowed highway. Snow-covered broadleaf trees line both sides of the road and dominate a low hill that forms the backdrop. Obviously not part of the recent Alcan construction, it is possibly the established Richardson Highway near where the completed Alcan joins at Delta Junction.
Unknown
Alcan 016
Unknown
A soldier stands in front of the winter quarters PX with his recent purchases and mail.
A winter scene of a soldier standing in front of a Quonset hut with a sign on it saying: "MAIL TODAY, CO. B-P.X., HOURS, 7:30 to 8 am, 12 to 1pm, 5 to 10pm, by ORDER OF COMMANDING OFFICER". The soldier has packages in his arm. Snow covers the ground and another building is visible at right and spruce trees form the backdrop. This may be part of the winter quarters of the shoulders who built and maintained a portion of the Alcan.
Unknown
Alcan 017
Unknown
A soldier stands beside an Army truck next to a Quonset Hut identified by a sign as the DISPATCHER OFFICE in this winter scene.
A winter scene with snow on the ground. A soldier stands in front of an army truck with a large white wooden box structure on the back. At right is a portion of a Quonset Hut with a large window. Between the truck and hut is a signpost with sign identifying the hut as the DISPATCHER OFFICE. A second truck is partially visible beyond. At left a number of fuel barrels are evident. Snow-covered trees form the backdrop.
Unknown
Alcan 018
Unknown
Soldiers are working in a sawmill sawing lumber.
A winter view of several soldiers working on a sawmill with one man walking toward the camera, two men at right handling boards and others visible in the shed beyond. Slabs from the logs are visible piled at left. Snow-covered trees form the backdrop. It is assumed this is part of the winter quarters of the Army unit associated with construction & maintenance of the Alcan Highway.
Unknown
Alcan 019
Unknown
The context of this photo with others of the Alcan Highway construction suggests it may show part of the Army winter encampment associated with maintenance of that road.
Winter view with snow covering several trucks and a cat tractor in a lot next to a small building with snow-covered trees behind.
Unknown
