Anchorage - Day 4

As it turned out, today became a history learning day.

First we visited Earthquake Park.  A park dedicated to the 1964 Good Friday earthquake that destroyed much of Anchorage.  The park overlooks Cook Inlet and the Knik Arm from Point Woronzof.  This point can also be seen on yesterday’s post across the bay taken while biking on the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail.  (A fact learned today).

This park also has beautiful paved jogging and biking trails.  These take you to Point Woronzof, where you can see beautiful views of the Cook Inlet, Alaska Range and Denali (if you’re fortunate!) and the Foraker Mountain (3,000 feet less than Denali).  Where the following pictures were taken:

Knik Arm Inlet with Foraker on the left & Denali on right

One of the many sea planes used for transportation here in Alaska

Second, we visited the Alaska Jewish Museum 

where we learned of the heroic feats of Alaska Airlines and their attempts to save Yemen Jews after World War II.  The pilots made trip after trip from Yemen to Israel, an 18 hour round trip marathon.  This was known as the Magic Carpet Route.

We also learned that many Jews made their way to Anchorage, from Russia, Poland, and other European countries during the early 1900s.  They settled here and began successful companies (such as Furriers).  These companies still exist today.