Valdez
When most people think of Valdez, they think of the Exon Valdez Oil Spill of 1989. This tragic spill occurred when the Exon Valdez oil tanker struck the Bligh reef 25 miles outside of the town...causing the biggest oil spill in North America. There is that Alaska is bigger theme again.
When visiting we learned that town of Valdez was moved after the Earthquake of 1964. This 9.2 quake caused major damage. The city fathers decided to move the town 4 miles away to a safer area. Only the foundations of the original town remain....as any remaining old town structures were burned (by fire department) to prevent anyone from living there.
We went to Valdez as we have family history here. My husbands Great Grandfather was a marshall in Valdez in the early 1900's. In 1907, nine companies fought to take advantage of the short route from the coast to the Copper Mines at Kennecott. The railroads hired marshals to protect their interests, as the locals wanted rights to the pass. A battle erupted between the townspeople and the marshals. Shots were fired and 10 people were injured and 1 died. When we get home, we are ordering the book, THE IRON TRAIL written by Rex Beach for the more historical perspective. The railroad pulled out and built elsewhere... all that remains is the tunnel.
We took the self guided Soloman Gulch Hatchery tour. This hatchery incubates and releases 250 million pink salmon and 2 million cohos annually. It is one of 6 hatcheries in Alaska that replenishes the salmon for fishing (both commercial & sport). The salmon that aren't eaten or caught return home to this hatchery. The eggs are then taken and the incubation cycle begins again. It was really interesting watching the salmon come in mass and climb the ladders back into the hatchery.
There are multiple waterfalls along the roadway into Valdez...one is named Bridal Veil Falls. But if you really want to the most spectacular waterfall, you need to take a trip to Yosemite Valley. The Bridal Veils Falls in Yosemite are much more spectacular!!
When visiting we learned that town of Valdez was moved after the Earthquake of 1964. This 9.2 quake caused major damage. The city fathers decided to move the town 4 miles away to a safer area. Only the foundations of the original town remain....as any remaining old town structures were burned (by fire department) to prevent anyone from living there.
We went to Valdez as we have family history here. My husbands Great Grandfather was a marshall in Valdez in the early 1900's. In 1907, nine companies fought to take advantage of the short route from the coast to the Copper Mines at Kennecott. The railroads hired marshals to protect their interests, as the locals wanted rights to the pass. A battle erupted between the townspeople and the marshals. Shots were fired and 10 people were injured and 1 died. When we get home, we are ordering the book, THE IRON TRAIL written by Rex Beach for the more historical perspective. The railroad pulled out and built elsewhere... all that remains is the tunnel.
We took the self guided Soloman Gulch Hatchery tour. This hatchery incubates and releases 250 million pink salmon and 2 million cohos annually. It is one of 6 hatcheries in Alaska that replenishes the salmon for fishing (both commercial & sport). The salmon that aren't eaten or caught return home to this hatchery. The eggs are then taken and the incubation cycle begins again. It was really interesting watching the salmon come in mass and climb the ladders back into the hatchery.
There are multiple waterfalls along the roadway into Valdez...one is named Bridal Veil Falls. But if you really want to the most spectacular waterfall, you need to take a trip to Yosemite Valley. The Bridal Veils Falls in Yosemite are much more spectacular!!
Glad you were able to make it to Valdez!!!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and way cool to have family history there.
ReplyDeleteVery cool!
ReplyDeleteNICE HAT.... :>)
ReplyDelete