American Fables Found Throughout the Last Frontier

The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show

The American lumberjack is as quintessential to understanding both the nation’s history and identity as are the cowboy, the locomotive and the Civil War. Nowhere provides as thrilling an experience for immersing yourself in logging heritage as The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show in Ketchikan. Witness modern-day lumberjacks compete in tests of strength and skill as they climb up and down trees, fling axes and run atop (spinning) floating logs. It may be a pinch flashier and more entertaining than the logging industry has been historically, but that’s partly the point of fables — to entice the imagination.

Juneau’s Gold Mines

Juneau’s Gold Mines

The California Gold Rush is a chapter of American history that seems almost proverbial. Lesser known, but equally critical to the nation’s history, is the Klondike Gold Rush. Gold was first discovered in the Yukon in August 1896, and within three years, over 100,000 prospectors had pilgrimaged far north through perilous weather and imposing mountain ranges for the increasingly small chance to strike it rich. Remnants of the rush of foolhardy prospectors are near-perfectly preserved throughout much of Alaska today, especially in Juneau. Here, the Alaska Gastineau Mill stands as a modern ruin weathered by time — but the gold mines that twist and turn underneath may as well be fully operational. Tour guides demonstrate mining techniques as well as enlighten you to what the mining lifestyle entails before providing you with the opportunity to pan for gold and garnets yourself. The thrill that hangs in the air as you hope to strike gold sheds new light onto the gold rushes over a century ago.

Saxman Native Village

Saxman Native Village

As critical as American fables are to understanding the collective culture today, it would be a grave offense to not recognize those that were here prior to the nation, states or colonies. Native Americans called all of North America home well before the likes of cowboys, lumberjacks or gold miners, though they have not had the opportunity to provide their authentic representation in popular culture until recently. The Saxman Native Village is a genuine opportunity to discover the rich living culture of Alaska’s Tlingits, preserved through the centuries. Walk among towering totem poles in the Saxman Totem Park and watch the craftsmen of today pass on the art to their apprentices. Witness traditional song and dance at the Beaver Clan House before being invited to partake yourself. The stories and tales shared here are American fables as well — just lesser known. Paired with the ones above, they provide a sharper understanding of the reality of the past and an idea of the truth that spurred the fables.

Eager to set off to Alaska and discover these American fables yourself? Our travel agents are ready to help make your dream trip come true. Not only can they remove all the stress you may find in attempting to book your own travel to the Last Frontier, but their close working relationships with the leading names in travel — such as Holland America Line — translate to exclusive perks and amenities. An adventure to Alaska feels a fair amount more feasible when you consider all the above can be enjoyed on a cruisetour through the Yukon with Holland America Line, allowing you to truly savor both the destinations you visit and the journey in between.