Page 199 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Alaska

EASTERN INTERIOR ALASK A  197

i Eagle
166 miles (267 km) NE of Tok.
Transport map F2. * 90. g
Dawson–Eagle cruise. n 1st Ave
West End, 547-2325.
The historical town of Eagle
sits beside the Yukon River
(see pp198–9) at the end of
the Taylor Highway. Started as
the Belle Isle Trading Post, just
12 miles (19 km) west of the
Canadian border, the town
was founded in 1897 by Cannon turned monument at the historic site of Fort Egbert
unsuccessful Klondike
Gold Rush prospec tors. They but the town has rebuilt mining, wood cutting, trapping,
named it Eagle after the birds and offers much to explore. agriculture, and transportation.
nesting on the bluff. A popular town tour takes The dis tinctive Waterwagon
As the Gold in the historical sights, Shed was used in the winter to
Rush boomed, the the stroll to the prevent the fort’s water supply
founders staked 400 BLM camp ground from freezing. Sliding doors
town lots and sold is pleasant, and the admitted the horse-drawn
them to settlers for summit of Eagle wagons and sleds that
a $5 recording fee. By Bluff offers great delivered water. The building
1898, the settle ment views. The 8–10 now houses transportation
had grown into the Welcome sign at day “float” down the exhibits and vintage vehicles.
military, judicial, and Eagle Village Yukon from Dawson The Scandinavian-style
com mercial heart of is a popular paddling Non-Commissioned Officers
the region. New settlers set trip for canoe enthusiasts. Quarters, built in 1901, is now
up gambling halls, saloons, set up as a military residence,
restaurants, and businesses. P Fort Egbert complete with period furnishings.
Fort Egbert was established 4th St Extension. Open late May– There is also an 1899 Quarter-
in 1899, and a year later, the early Sep: 9am–5pm daily. 8 Eagle master Storehouse and a
legendary Judge Wickersham Historical Society, 547-2325. 1903 Storehouse, which now
(see p143) chose Eagle as the Fort Egbert was established features an interpretive display
site of the Interior’s first fed eral by the US Army in 1899 and on the restoration.
court house. In 1905, Norwegian five of its 46 original buildings
explorer Roald Amundsen at the fort were restored by E Eagle Historical Society
mushed a dog team from the BLM between 1974 and Museum Tour
the Beaufort Sea to Eagle to 1979. Open to the public as Wickersham Courthouse. Tel 547-
announce that his ship, the a National Historic Landmark, 2325. Open late May–early Sep. &
Gjoa, had successfully negoti- the buildings include the Mule 8 9am daily (duration 3 hrs). =
ated the Northwest Passage. Barn, built in 1900 to house Many of Eagle’s finest historic
In 2009, a devastating flood the army’s horses and mules. buildings are still in place, and
destroyed the entire riverfront, It now holds tools used in early in the summer, the Historical
Society conducts a walking tour
of the prominent sights. Built by
Judge James Wickersham, the
1901 Wickersham Courthouse
still contains his original
court room, and also houses
a museum of town history.
The old Customs House, part
of Fort Egbert, contains a period
residence. The tour also covers
the 1904 Improved Order of
Redmen Lodge (now the home
of the Historical Society), and the
town icon, the 1903 Wellhouse.
The 2009 flood damaged
much of the commercial center,
however, fortunately, most
of Eagle’s historic structures
Log cabin gift shop decorated with moose and caribou antlers, Eagle escaped the flooding.

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