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A Brief History of Nenana
Early 1900's
Up until the early 1990's the Native Athabascan Village and Camp was located on the Northeast Section of the current townsite of Nenana. It was mostly referred to as Toghotthele Village or Tortella (a variant spelling).
1902
The Washington Alaska Military cable and Telegraph system was established from Valdez to Eagle and Eagle to Nome. It came right through Nenana and over Toghotthele hill.
1903
The first non-native settler, Jim Duke, constructed a roadhouse near where the present-day Alaska Railroad depot sits.
1905
St. Mark's Episcopal Mission was founded. The original church building is still in town. After it withstood the flood of 1967, it was relocated to the corner of Market and Front Street.
1916
Nenana townsite surveyed and lots auctioned to the public. 344 lots were sold for $135,525 in one day.
1917
Nenana becomes a boom town for over a year. Official start of the now Century old tradition of the Nenana Ice Classic.
1918
Flood in Nenana
1921
Nenana incorporated as a city.
1923
Completion of the Tanana River Bridge at Nenana and Completion of the Alaska Railroad from Seward to Fairbanks. Ceremony held in Nenana as U.S. President Harding drives the golden spike.
1925
Due to a Diphtheria outbreak in Nome, serum was trained from Anchorage to Nenana and then relayed over 700 miles to Nome by 21 dog sled teams. Nenana is the original start of the Iditarod.
1933
SS Nenana Sternwheeler was built and launched.
1936
A devastating fire burns 14 buildings on A Street.
1948
A flood due to rainstorms in May 1948 on the Chena and Tanana rivers had a discharge at Nenana of 3820 m3 s-1 (135,000 cfs) and a gauge height of 4.85 m (15.9 ft),
1967
Even bigger flood puts the town of Nenana under water.
1968
Tanana River Highway bridge completed.
1971
Parks Highway completed from Fairbanks to Anchorage.
1985
Federal Railroad transferred to state, ceremony held in Nenana Civic Center with Govenor Shefield.
2021
Centennial Celebration of the City's incorporation.
2023
Centennial Celebration of the completion of the Alaska Railroad held in Nenana
1923
Centennial Celebration of the first flight by Ben Eielson from Fairbanks to Nenana
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