Chena Townsite Repeat Photos

Fall 2023 UAF Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity (URSA) Project

This project employed repeat photography to support archeological efforts at the Chena Townsite in Fairbanks, Alaska, and to understand how the landscape has evolved since the town was abandoned. It also endeavors to contribute to the preservation of history, public education, and our understanding of land use changes.


About the Townsite


Townsite estimated location

In partnership with Dr. Justin Cramb from the UAF Department of Anthropology, I attempted to georeference the two publicly available maps of Chena using available point coordinates as well as certain land features..

Chena Detail Map courtesy of Dr. Justin Cramb and Alaska and Polar Regions Collections & Archives (APRCA)

Chena 1908 Map by Sanborn Map Co., courtesy of Dr. Justin Cramb and Alaska and Polar Regions Collections & Archives (APRCA)


Image selection for reproduction


Final Repeat Photos

Eye View

Ridge View

C.M.S & R Co. (Chena Milling Smelting & Refining Co.)

River View 1

River View 2


Acknowledgments

➤ UAF Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity (URSA) ➤ Dr. Ken Tape - Research Associate Professor, Geophysical Institute ➤ Dr. Justin Cramb - Assistant Professor, UAF Department of Anthropology ➤ Alaska and Polar Regions Collections & Archives (APRCA), UAF


Sources:

Wikipedia contributors. (2023, July 23). Chena, Alaska. In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 10, 2023, from  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chena,_Alaska  

Wikipedia contributors. (2023, November 24). Tanana Valley Railroad. In Wikipedia. Retrieved December 10, 2023, from  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanana_Valley_Railroad 

Martin Gutoski. Where is Chena?—The Search for a Lost Century-Old Gold Rush Town. In Amerisurv. Retrieved December 10, 2023, from  https://amerisurv.com/2013/01/26/where-is-chena-the-search-for-a-lost-century-old-gold-rush-town/ 

Eye View

Ridge View

C.M.S & R Co. (Chena Milling Smelting & Refining Co.)

River View 1

River View 2