Alaska’s long, and storied relationship with aviation began in 1913 when Fairbanks merchants arranged for James V. and Lilly Martin to bring their airplane from Seattle to Alaska’s Golden City. The Martins shipped their crated airplane from Seattle to Skagway by ocean steamer, and from Skagway to Whitehorse to Fairbanks by steamboat. Martin took off from a ball park the evening of July 3 and flew the plane over Fairbanks at an altitude of 200 feet and speeds of up to 45 miles per hour. In all, the couple made five flights in three days at Fairbanks.
Ten years after the Martin flights in Fairbanks, Southcentral Alaska embraced aviation when the entire town turned out to clear Anchorage’s first airstrip on what is today the Delaney Park Strip.
These events changed Alaska forever, and mark the beginning of a rich history of aviation, unique to the state of Alaska. A heritage we believe is well-worth saving.
Now you can help preserve the history of aviation in Alaska by contributing to the Alaska Aviation Museum Endowment. The Endowment’s sole purpose is to assist the Alaska Aviation Museum in its mission to preserve and present the story of how aviation brought Alaska together – and the pioneer aviators who flew their way into history.
Watch a short video on the important role aviation has played in Alaska.
