The Northern Alberta Railways Park features numerous attractions: the Mile '0' Cairn, the Railway Station Museum and the Dawson Creek Art Gallery. Some other historical sites to see are the Walter Wright Pioneer Village and the Kiskatinaw Bridge. There is also a walking tour of Dawson Creek that combines art and history.
The Mile '0' Cairn beside the traffic circle is a stone monument marking the original site where Alaska Highway construction began in 1942. On a plaque near the cairn, the American Society of Civil Engineers dedicated the Alaska Highway as 16th International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in the world. The sculpture at the centre of the circle is of a surveyor scoping out the highway at the center of the traffic circle.
Railway Station Museum
The South Peace Historical Society Railway Station Museum and main Visitor Centre (900 Alaska Ave) are in the original 1931 Northern Alberta Railways Station. Entrance is by donation. The museum recreates the look and feel of an old-fashioned railway station, complete with luggage trunks and other memorabilia and artifacts from before European settlement in the area. Be sure to collect a certificate that reads: "Been to Mile 0."
Dawson Creek Art Gallery
The Dawson Creek Art Gallery (816 Alaska Ave) features the paintings and mixed-media work of local and Canadian artists, and is housed in an annex of one of the city's original grain elevators. The elevator was moved to its current location and has been home to the gallery since 1983. In 1984, the gallery was awarded the Heritage of Canada Foundation Award of Merit. The gallery is uniquely designed with ramps along each of the four walls that spiral up to the art displays.
Alaska Highway House
Next to the Mile '0' post is the Alaska Highway House (10201-10th St), which documents the history and construction of the historic highway and is brimming with information, photographs, a film and other interactive features. Read soldiers' stories about their lives during construction, and get a feel for the harsh conditions and physical challenges around building this historic route.
Walter Wright Pioneer Village
The Walter Wright Pioneer Village (Alaska Highway Mile 1) is part of Mile '0' Park located 1.6km/1mi from downtown Dawson Creek. The village's look and feel is reminiscent of early settlement days in Dawson Creek, prior to the 1942 construction of the Alaska Highway.
Stroll along the wooden boardwalk with a copy of the self-guided tour and visit the many buildings with furniture, curtains and original décor of the time. Group tours may be reserved in advance. While touring, be sure to see the lovely rose garden, one of eleven gardens in Dawson Creek.
Kiskatinaw Bridge
One notable piece of architecture resulting from the Alaska Highway construction is the long, curved, wooden-trestle Kiskatinaw Bridge that spans the Kiskatinaw River. Access the bridge by driving 28km/17mi north on Highway 97 from Dawson Creek, and turn right onto the Old Alaska Highway (follow the signs). Camp at Kiskatinaw Provincial Park, which is nestled next to the bridge along the valley bottom.
Walking Tour of Downtown Dawson
Take a self-guided tour of downtown Dawson Creek that highlights the area's history with a modern touch from local artists. Learn about the evolution of city buildings while viewing large murals depicting a variety of local historical scenes. A tour brochure is available at the Visitor Centre, the art gallery, and the Alaska Highway House.
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