The Knik, Alaska Story
Once a thriving town
In the 1910 photo above is Knik.
The word Knik comes from the Inupiaq word igniq, meaning “fire”.
Located on the west bank of the Knik Arm of Cook Inlet, you can drive to Knik from Anchorage, Alaska. At Wasilla, take the South Knik Goose Bay Road and follow to the now ghost town of Knik.
Knik in the 1800s
In the 1880s, an American Trader named George W. Palmer established a trading post at a Dena’ina village that became known as New Knik. The U.S. Census shows that 46 Athabascan Indians lived there in 1880.
Gold was Discovered
In the early 1890s, gold was discovered along Cook Inlet’s Turnagain Arm.
From 1895 to 1897, the Cook Inlet Gold Rush brought many gold stampeders to the area.
Because of the gold rush, Orville Herning’s Knik Trading Company opened in Knik.
It Began to Grow
In the 1900s, Knik had become the commercial center for upper Cook Inlet.
By 1915, Knik had about 500 residents. The new town featured four hotels, three saloons, four stores, a barber shop, a pool hall, a movie theatre, a U.S. Commissioner and a jail.
Knik Became a Shipping Hub for Alaska
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What Happened to Knik?
Enter the Alaska Railroad.
Instead of Knik, the mouth of Ship Creek (which would become Anchorage) was chosen by the Alaska Railroad as its headquarters.
By 1917, the railroad had reached Wasilla, not far from Knik. So, businesses in the town of Knik, started relocating to either Wasilla or Anchorage.
Quickly, Knik Became a Ghost Town
And during the move, some buildings were taken apart at Knik and relocated to Wasilla and other places.
Today
Only two original buildings remain in Knik.
One of them is the Fulton - Hirshey Pool and Billiard Hall. Built in Knik in 1910. It later became a roadhouse. It now houses a museum and the Wasilla - Knik Historical Society.
BONUS
Would you like to know more?
Take a look at the Wasilla - Knik Historical Society for information.
The photo above shows the only original cabin left in Knik.
Look Mom, Our House is in a Museum
In the photo above is Mike of Alaska Stories.
Paddy Marion was a well-known prospector and miner in the Willow Creek Mining district (Hatcher Pass) for over 50 years. Along with his twin sister, they operated the “Marion Twin Mine”.
The cabin they lived in may have first come from Knik, then to Hatcher Pass.
Later, it was located in Wasilla, just across the street from a log building that served as the Community Hall and later became the Dorothy G. Page Center and historical museum.
The Paddy Marion cabin was eventually moved across the street to be put on display behind the museum.
One day in the early 1980s, Mike of Alaska Stories took his mother, Louise Dougherty, to Wasilla and to the museum.
When they came upon the Paddy Marion cabin, pictured above, they didn't recognize it at first. Then suddenly, Mike said, “mom, we used to live in this cabin when it was across the street.”
BONUS
Do you want to know more about Knik, Alaska?
Take a look at Sketches of Knik and discover.
From Our North Stars (that’s you)
From the Homer, Alaska Story:
Peter submitted this memory:
“A homegrown girl from Homer, who later made it big in the music biz, is Jewel Kilcher.
I recall that her mom, Nedra and dad, Atz, had recorded an LP of country songs—most of them original—and wanted help in getting demos to the music labels. I was working at one of the country radio stations in Anchorage (circa 1978).
One day Neda stopped by. In the back seat of the car, was Jewel She was all of four at the time.
Fast-forward to 1995. I was working at KLITE radio in Santa Barbara and low and behold, here comes this new song “Cold Song” by a new artist called Jewel. It didn’t dawn on me that the artist was Jewel (Kilcher) until later. I read a story about her and her family living on a homestead near Homer! When I left Anchorage in ’84, Jewel was 10 and was just beginning to sing with her dad in his band.
Who woulda thunk that she would end up in San Diego, living with her mom in their VW bus, singing in coffee shops and later being spotted by a talent scout from Atlantic Records. But that’s show biz!”
BONUS
Take a look at the Homer, Alaska Story and discover.
Connect with Mike and Mary
Mike of Alaska Stories and his family lived just off Goose Bay road, near Knik, in around 1957 while it was still a two-lane dirt road. Mike’s dad, Ray Dougherty, was the foreman on a job to upgrade the gravel-covered road. It’s now a paved highway.
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Until Next Time
Mike and Mary
Alaska-Stories.com
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