Historic Preservation

Historic preservation seeks to preserve, conserve, and protect sites, structures, or objects which have local historical significance.

Benefits

Historic preservation benefits the community in the following ways:

• Culturally - a community is richer for the tangible presence of past eras and architectural styles
• Developmentally - provides a well-defined planning approach for the protection of historic buildings while accommodating healthy growth
• Economically - increased property values, tax revenues, and tourism revenue when historic buildings are protected, maintained and used
• Environmentally - historic buildings are recycled (restored, rehabilitated) rather than demolished and disposed of in the community landfill
• Socially - citizens take pride in their community's history

Historic Preservation Plan

The Historic Preservation Plan (PDF) provides the Fairbanks North Star Borough community with guidance and direction in the preservation efforts of its historic resources. The plan was last revised in 2007 and is currently in the process of being updated by the Historic Preservation Commission.

Historic Sites & Buildings

The Borough has several historic districts and a number of historic places on the national registry.

Historic Districts Information

Take a look at the Historic Districts in the City of Fairbanks (1986 Matheson Report) (PDF) for more information.

• Chatanika Gold Camp
  • Photos (PDF)
• Ester Camp
  • Photos (PDF)
• Fairbanks Exploration (F.E) Company Housing (PDF)
• Illinois Street (PDF)

Fairbanks Locations on the National Registry of Places

The George C. Thomas Memorial Library, Sternwheeler Nenana, and Ladd Field are National Historic Landmarks.