Alaska News

Birth of a city

The 100th anniversary of the founding of Anchorage is celebrated in two new Alaska books.

Byron Birdsall's colorful images of Alaska's natural scenery and cityscapes have made him one of the most popular artists in the state. But a new book, "Byron Birdsall's Alaska" (Alaska Northwest Books), is an interesting departure. It consists of pen and ink drawings of scenes from Alaska's past -- all in black and white. The effect is somewhat like looking at newspaper photographs from yesteryear.

Birdsall says the idea of combining his fascination with history and his interest in pen and ink came in a flash. "So I tried doing one, and then another, and then another, and I couldn't stop."

In the foreword of the book, author Dana Stabenow notes that "a photograph only freezes a moment of time, it doesn't interpret it. In his sketches Byron's pen thaws these moments into a liquid reflection, a ripple of light and shadow connecting present to past." She likens the images to time machines.

The pictures in the book range from a dock scene in Gold Rush-era Seattle to the construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline. They include depictions of Southeast, Nome, Kennicott, Fairbanks and the bombing of Dutch Harbor. A particularly interesting sequence shows early tourism in what was originally Mount McKinley National Park.

The first several pages, however, are devoted to Anchorage over the years. Recognizing that this year is being celebrated as Anchorage's 100th anniversary, we present a selection today in conjunction with a tale of the founding of the city from Charles Wohlforth's new book, "From the Shores of Ship Creek" (Todd Communications).

IMAGINING ANCHORAGE SYMPOSIUM, a four-day observation in conjunction with the Anchorage Centennial Celebration, will take place June 18-21. The event includes a reception for the mayor of Whidby, England, once the hometown of Captain James Cook, on June 18; a series of lectures with an international roster on the subject of Cook's voyages on June 19; and more presentations on Anchorage's past, with Charles Wohlforth among the speakers on June 20. Register at cookinlethistory.org/registration-form.html.

Mike Dunham

Mike Dunham has been a reporter and editor at the ADN since 1994, mainly writing about culture, arts and Alaska history. He worked in radio for 20 years before switching to print.

ADVERTISEMENT