City guide · Fairbanks
Fairbanks
The aurora hangs over the Chena River, and a gold-rush town guards the gate of the Arctic Circle
Fairbanks lies in the Alaskan Interior, where the Chena and Tanana rivers meet, at about 64°51′ north latitude and some 190 kilometres from the Arctic Circle — one of the northernmost large cities in the United States. Around the winter solstice the night here lasts nearly nineteen hours a day, and the aurora season runs from late August to late April. Summer is another extreme: under the midnight sun, gold-rush-era log cabins, the mammoth fossils in the university museum, and the steam of Chena Hot Springs together tell the story of the "Golden Heart."
History
How the city came to be
In 1901 the trading captain Barnette's ship ran aground on the Chena River; forced to unload where he was, he built a trading post. In 1902 the Italian immigrant Felix Pedro found gold in the hills nearby, and the gold rush arrived at a stroke. The trading post was named for Senator Charles Fairbanks, a friend of Judge Wickersham — the man later became Vice President of the United States. Fairbanks was formally incorporated in 1903, and the Alaska Railroad arrived in 1923. The Alaska Highway, built during the Second World War, and the Cold War military bases brought new population and prosperity. In 1967 the great Chena River flood drowned the whole city, and large flood-control works were built afterwards. In 1968 oil was found on the North Slope; the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, completed in 1977, passes nearby, and Fairbanks became an interior supply hub; in the 21st century, aurora tourism has made it flourish again.
- 1901Barnette establishes a trading post on the bank of the Chena River
- 1902Felix Pedro discovers gold; the gold rush erupts
- 1903Fairbanks formally incorporated as a city
- 1923The Alaska Railroad reaches Fairbanks
- 1942The Alaska Highway built and opened
- 1967The great Chena River flood sweeps the whole city
- 1977The Trans-Alaska Pipeline completed
- 2000Aurora tourism rises; Fairbanks becomes a famous North American aurora-watching city
Stories
Stories of the city
A gold rush sparked by a trading post
History · Fairbanks
In August 1901 the trader E. T. Barnette set up a trading post on the south bank of the Chena River. Gold was soon found nearby, setting off the Fairbanks gold rush; miners flooded in and Barnette became the first mayor. The population fell sharply during the First World War, and when gold prices rose during the Great Depression the town boomed again.
Must see
Places you shouldn’t miss
Before you go
Rules to know in Fairbanks
Driving in the US: what to do when police pull you over
Do
- Signal right and pull over safely to the right
- Roll down your window after stopping, before the officer reaches you
- At night, turn on the interior light
- Keep both hands on the wheel and ask passengers to keep their hands visible too
Don’t
- Getting out and walking towards the police car
- Suddenly reaching for the glovebox, a pocket or under the seat
Sudden movements may be read as a threat and become dangerous. The wording of the rules varies slightly between states.
Not yet verifiedSource: Texas Department of Public Safety driver handbook
USA: tipping is almost always expected
Do
- Restaurants with table service: 15–20% of the pre-tax bill
- Bartenders: US$1–2 a drink, or 15–20% of the bill
- Taxis: 15–20% of the fare, at least US$1
- Hotel housekeeping: US$2–5 a day
Don’t
- Not tipping at restaurants with table service
Not illegal, but seen as very rude.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Emily Post Institute: tipping guide