Riverboat - S. S. Nenana
The Nenana ran Alaska's rivers from 1933 to 1952 bringing
supplies, news, employment and transportation to each of its stops. It now rests in state
at Alaskaland.
[Photo of Nenana at Alaskaland is
courtesy of Julie Coghill]
A detailed diorama and an oil background mural greet visitors as
they enter the Nenena's cargo hold. The diorama is part of a five-year restoration effort
for this National Historic landmark. It shows her journeys as part of the Yukon River
Fleet. Scheduled to be completed soon, visitors can still watch the diorama's painstaking
construction.
Future plans include adding a new boiler to the ship to spin the
paddle and make the boat seem more lifelike.
Tours of the sternwheeler and the diorama are available daily for a nominal charge.
A class of third graders from University Park School did a web site on the S.
S. Nenana as a school project in 1995. Here is a link
to their site, which was very well done.
