Visiting the Alaska Highway House in Dawson Creek, British Columbia

The Alaska Highway House is a must visit for tourists driving the Alaska Highway.  We are visiting here after driving the Alaska Highway because the Alaska Highway House was closed when we arrived in Dawson Creek on Canada's Long May Weekend.

The Alaska Highway House is

adjacent to the 0 Mile Marker

in Dawson Creek.

After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Alaska was put at risk because it is 750 miles from Japanese airbases.  In 1941 the only access from the lower 48 states to Alaska was by air.  An overland route became  a necessity to defend Alaska from attack.  Negotiations allowed the United States to send over 10,000 Army Engineers and troops to Canada to build the Alaska Highway.

Wood was laid to build the

Alaska Highway through

muskeg.

The film shown here details the challenges of building roads across swamps and on permafrost.  The veterans' accounts of living and working in sub Arctic temperatures and then the summer heat with swarming insects show how tough these Army Engineers and troops were as they met daily obstacles.

A model of the arced, timber
Kitkatinaw Bridge, built
in 1942 & is still in
use today.

This 531 foot bridge was bypassed in 1978 when a new road was built to accommodate trucks carrying heavier loads.  Driving across this bridge is now a short side trip from Alaska Highway.

Over 3,000 Black Army Engineers and troops worked on the Alaska Highway.  They defied stereotypes and low expectations to ensure that the Alaska Highway was built as quickly as possible.  

Crews working east from Alaska 

& North from Dawson Creek met

at Mile 588 on September 24, 1942.

Construction of this rough Military

Highway was completed 

November 1942.

The history lessons are great.  The Alaska Highway House has lots of great information for visitors.

Local businesses offer

discounts.

This flier has Dawson Creek

services listed, including areas

where visitors can park all day.

There is a two hour limit on

street parking in Dawson Creek.

Visitors don't need to feel rushed

as they explore the city.

This brochure lists campgrounds

& gas stations along the

Alaska Highway.

I'm glad we took the time to visit.  I learned a lot about the stories behind the building of the Alaska Highway and got great information on Dawson Creek to share with others.