Fort Davis (Nome Census Area, Alaska)
Nome Census Area · Alaska · Nome Gold Rush
History & Significance
Fort Davis was established in 1900 at the mouth of Nome River, four miles east of Nome City, in direct response to lawlessness accompanying the gold discovery. The Nome Gold Rush generated unrest from claim jumping, claim filing errors, and general lack of authority.
More than 130 soldiers were posted to the fort to keep law and order during the gold rush years, from 1900 to 1918, when it was abandoned. The installation included barracks, an icehouse, coal house, stables, bakery, gymnasium, hospital, magazine, bath and pump house, plus its own cemetery.
Soldiers used skis as an efficient way to move through deep winter snows. Infantry groups rotated regularly by steamship, and troops participated in Fourth of July parades and music concerts in Nome.
After a 1934 fire destroyed Nome's business section, the fort's guardhouse was relocated to Front Street to serve as the new home of the oldest newspaper in Alaska. The Inupiat used this area well before soldiers arrived because of diverse and abundant birds, fish, and mammals.
Key Facts
Map
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Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Davis,_Alaska
- https://www.alaska.org/detail/nomes-military-history
- https://www.alsap.org/FortDavis/FortDavis.htm
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nome_Gold_Rush
- https://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:80444/xv77944
- https://archives.consortiumlibrary.org/collections/specialcollections/hmc-0696/
- https://www.nps.gov/articles/alaska-goldrush-national-historic-landmarks.htm
- https://akgenweb.whalen-family.org/AKNome/military.html
- https://dp.la/item/e04ef1644dd21f58e43171c5b59519c5