G.E. Sherman's Blog, page 2
December 28, 2012
Valdez in 1902
By 1902, Valdez, Alaska was on its way to becoming a civilized town with many of the
amenities of modern life. The year prior, a telephone system was installed
and by the close of 1902, the telegraph system linking Valdez to the outside
world was completed.
This panorama of the town was taken from the water or end of the boardwalk
in 1902:
(courtesy Library of Congress)
In the distance, just above the boardwalk and the tree line, you can see a hint of the Valdez Glacier.
This was the much hyped “easy” access to the gold fields in the Interior, a
route that in reality was anything but (see
Valdez to the Gold Fields).
Slowly the crowd thinned and Thomas was able to make his way down the gang plank and along the boardwalk, finally setting foot on Alaska soil. For a moment, he took in a deep breath and marveled at the sights and sounds around him. The din of the crowd grew distant as he took in the majesty of the snow capped mountains and glaciers that surrounded him. Amid that muddy outwash plain of the Valdez Glacier, even the air smelled different, electrifying. He was finally here and he savored the moment. — From Forging North, Chapter 1
