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The
Matanuska-Susitna Valley
The
Matanuska-Susitna Valley is nestled between the Chugach and
the Talkeetna Mountains. Covering over 23,000 square miles
of scenic Southcentral Alaska, the Valley is at the convergence
of the George Parks and Glenn Highways, the two major arteries
of Alaska travel. Palmer and Wasilla are the main population
centers for Mat-Su, but comprise just the tip of the glacier.
The Valley boasts many colorful communities, including Big
Lake, Chickaloon, Houston, Eureka, Lake Louise, Skwentna,
Sutton, Talkeetna, and Trapper Creek�all bursting with Mat-Su
Valley charm.
 Palmer--Alaska's
Playground
Just
40 miles north of Anchorage on the Glenn Highway is a small,
quiet place, surrounded by breathtaking scenery. This is Palmer.
While enjoying the scenery--the many waterways, mountains,
glaciers, the abundance of wildlife--with its unlimited outdoor
recreation opportunities, you can count on keeping dominant
Pioneer Peak in your view most of the time.
Besides
having the unique opportunity to observe a herd of musk oxen,
there's a reindeer farm close by. More conventional four-legged
animals, such as horses or llamas, can take you on trail rides
or on pack trips into the mountains.
Sled
dog rides and races are just one way to enjoy winter. Cross-country
skiing, snowmobiling, ice-fishing on our frozen lakes, and
a variety of social events are also popular. Alpine skiing
is one hour's drive from Palmer.
Wasilla--Home
of the Iditarod
 Wasilla
derives its name from a respected local Dena�ina Athabascan
Indian, Chief Wasilla. The Wasilla area has been inhabited
by the Dena�ina Athabascan Indian people for thousands of
years. From little more than a wide spot on the Carle Trail
that runs from the gold mines of Hatcher Pass to the seaport
of Knik, Wasilla has become a magnet for growth in the Mat-Su
Valley.
In 1917, Wasilla was established as the result of
a government land auction at the intersection of the Alaska
Railroad and the Willow Creek Mining District�s supply route.
It
also served as a staging area for mining around the town
of Talkeetna and the Kantishna Gold Mining area near Mount
McKinley.
Wasilla prospered from its inception until 1940 when
its growth slowed, but continued until 1950 as the Gateway
to the Willow Creek Mining District. Close to $18 million
dollars of gold valued at $20-35 per ounce was mined during
this time. Mining in the area continues as an avocation
for many and as a vocation for a few.
For
the history buffs, the Wasilla area has many historic sites
and museums, including the Alaska Transportation Museum,
the Dorothy Page Museum, the Iditarod Headquarters and the
Knik Museum, which houses a history of the Iditarod, dog
mushers, sled dogs , and native culture.
Mid-summer,
Wasilla hosts the Wasilla Water Festival.
This annual event features a water-ski competition,
raft racing, an Independence Day Parade, 10K run, biathlon,
and a community picnic and games. Wasilla boasts the amenities
of a big city with the charm of a small community.
Museum
of Alaska Transportation & Industry
Located
between the towns of Houston and Wasilla, 3/4 mile off the
Parks Highway, you can find this rare gem. A non-profit
corporation devoted to the preservation, restoration, exhibition,
collection, and interpretation of artifacts relating to
Alaska's transportation and industrial history, the museum
has many exhibits to showcase our artifacts. In the Don
Sheldon Building, displays include the following:
- Bush Pilot
Hall of Fame
- Radio and
Communications equipment
- Exhibits:
- Gold mining
- Maritime
- Experimental
aircraft
- Aircraft
engines
- Stationary
engines
- Restored
vehicles
There
are numerous outdoor exhibits to see: trains, boats, cars,
trucks, snow machines, construction equipment, farm equipment,
and aircraft. All are displayed on ten acres and open to
the public year-round.
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