Building of the ALCAN Readers Theater
Saturday 29 Aug 2p
The building of the ALCAN highway began in March 1942 and was completed in Oct 1942. An engineering feat of monumental proportions and a victory for Northwest Canada and Alaska – a road connecting the lower 48 and insuring supplies could reach Alaska if the Japanese submarines continued to harass our shipping. It was accomplished from Dawson Creek, British Columbia to Delta Junction (then Big Delta) over 1600 miles in the worst terrain and across muskeg, permafrost, rivers and mountain with 130 bridges and 8000 culverts. There were 7 Engineering Regiments, 3 White, 3 Black and 1 Support regiment or about 11,000 plus surveyors and others. The Readers Theater tells the tales of the 3 Black Engineering Regiments: the 93rd, 95th and 97th through letters they wrote during the building of the ALCAN. While the 97th is prominent in the letters, all played a part. Some of the audience will play the parts of these great pioneers of building the great wilderness highway ensuring the war effort in Alaska could be supported by land. This will be in the atrium of the Alaska Veterans Museum on 411 4th Ave, Suite 201 inside the yellow Sunshine building. The Museum is free from 10-5. Please join us for this historical presentation from our Alaska past.