Theo Visits a Railroad Museum

 Most people know that Alaska is a sparsely populated state. You can ride for miles and see more tractors than people. 

After we leave Fairbanks, we decide to stop in Nenana, a small town with about one thousand people total. Its claim to fame: it can offer a "remote experience" and, of course, a railroad museum that focuses on the history of Alaskan railroad.

Nenana's Main Street has a few houses, a grocery store that looks more like a larger than average convenience store and the railroad museum. In the day that's how people came to and left this town--by railroad. In fact, this museum, is a used to be depot.

How do you explain a place like this to Theo? The town sits on the Nenana River (considered to be the interior of Alaska). No animals. Only plenty of opportunities to sniff the bygone past. That's why I want to be here. I love history. I love imagining how life used to be a hundred or more years ago. Theo . . . not so much. 

We hightail it over to the museum, a small green planked building with white trim. As you might expect as you walk through the doors, you're immediately transported to a world that doesn't exist anymore. A bustling railroad depot has been preserved for the few tourists that wander in. 

"Theo, imagine. There used to be scores of people coming in with their luggage. You bought your ticket here for the train . . ."

For a second Theo looks more interested than he should be. He seems to think that's why we're here now. To buy a ticket and leave. To get out of town.

"Of course, the depot is a museum now." 

His momentary excitement fades.

Quickly I reframe the experience. "But there's plenty to sniff, and then we'll get you some snacks."

 I put him down and let him wander around. 

There's a ticket window. An office area behind wider than wide bars with desks and an old fashioned typewriter. 

And there's a museum.

Theo is in the corner sniffing whatever. Dan and I go into the back "museum space." It's what you would expect--old newspaper stories preserved on the wall, photos of life the way it used to be--snow sleds being pulled by dogs.

We come back to the front and casually I look around. Theo has got to be somewhere. But he seems to have completely disappeared. I don't panic. I've learned my lesson. In fact, I think with a small laugh, maybe he did buy a ticket and is sitting on some imaginary train outside on the tracks. 

Dan spots him first. He's jumped up on the ticket counter desk. Not buying a ticket. Oh, no. He's sniffing the small cubbies . . . we grab him.

"Time for snacks."

Finally, we wander over to the "grocery store" for the snacks.

Could I have ever lived in a town like this? It's quaint but so isolated. 

But, later as we're leaving I begin to glimpse the town's allure. The scenery is striking. The quiet is profound (except for Theo smacking his lips.)  And I begin to understand how someone could live here.  

Theo, on the other hand, has a more than serious look on his face. "Where to next?" he wants to know.

Denali National Park. And animals. Yippee!!!

Theo and The Fake Real Alaska

 Dare I say it? After our last "museum" experience, Theo has become, more or less, a fan. If the museum has animals, any kind of animals, he's all in. At least today, that's his story!

We try to explain. We're still in Fairbanks, Alaska, and want to visit The Morris Thompson Center--which has world class exhibits.

I'm in awe. Who doesn't want to see a bald eagle up close and personal that looks alive but isn't? The fake real.

Then there's a bear that is staring at us--only a few feet away. Not real, but he looks real. Another fake real.

We walk along, agog at the exhibits. 

"Well, Theo, what do you think?"

Of course, he's too busy sniffing and staring to respond. He would love to jump into the exhibit and check it out. Are they real? Fake? Gosh.

We move on. To the clothing exhibits. Frankly, this is where Theo gets his snack as we marvel at the colorful, intricate clothing. Now this is authentic and begs the question--what was it like to live in Alaska, in frigid temperatures, surrounded by snow and ice, with no central heating?

The next few exhibits show an Alaska that few see:

We save the most interesting until last. Outside, as we're leaving, we spot an arch made of 100 moose and caribou antlers called "Farthest North Antler Arch." The antlers were donated by local hunters and farmers to represent the region's hunting history and culture. The arch was built in 2010.

I've wanted to visit Alaska for a long time. "Can you believe this?" I say to Dan and Theo.

We step closer, to examine the antlers more closely and to, of course, give Theo a chance to sniff. And sniff. And sniff. 

"This is real, mom." And so it goes.

Theo and Animals of a Different Kind

 If you're a regular follower of Hot Blogging with Chuck, you know all about Theo. This gangster cat loves snacks, animals and sniffing everything. We know this, too, and are not above using schemes to lure Theo where we want him to go.

I say the word "museum," and Theo shakes his head. I say the word "animal" and Theo agrees.

We visit the Museum of the North in Fairbanks, Alaska. This place is amazing for not having one live animal on the premises. But if you want an encapsulated view of Alaska and all its wildlife, this is the place to dip your toe in. Theo is in his glory . . .

First, we see the Alaskan dinosaur. Of course, all we have are the bones, but it is enough to show you how big they were . . . back in the day.

We're impressed  but then we see the dinosaur of all dinosaurs. Notice Dan on the side to see how big this dinosaur really is:

Then we have (and this is just a sampling) of some of the animals who live in Alaska. Stuffed animals. Which is cool because you can get really close and see them.

This museum goes one step further and showcases gigantic displays of sandpipers in their native habitat. All re-creations, of course, but they're magnificent.

There's a display of water animals: ducks, geese and swans and an entire slew of animals I've never heard of, part of the same family:

Finally we stumble upon some teeth of Ice-Age mammals. We immediately think of the Gold Sisters and the hundreds of pre-historic artifacts they uncovered and displayed in the geodesic dome on regular shelves. This museum has two sets of teeth only. Still the size is impressive compared to human teeth. 

Theo looks up at me. 

"Yes, you can sniff them." 

Keep in mind this is a ten minute operation as he sniffs and sniffs. If cats could smile, his would be a mile wide. 

Usually I'm telling him: "Think of this like watching TV." He loves to jump up and perch in front of the TV, watching it up close and personal--especially anything to do with nature. This time there's no glass to separate him from the teeth.

Okay, so we continue through the museum and I can't resist capturing the kayak that Alaskans use to go seal hunting. It is bigger than you imagine. 

Theo asks, "Where are the animals?"

"One track mind," I think but don't say.

 Finally, we reach the clothing exhibits. How do you dress to stay warm in frigid temperatures, especially before there was central heating--parkas and boots and hoods. 

 

Again, "Where are the animals?" Theo meows.

Again, I shake my head in disbelief.

"Well, what do you think, Theo? Did you like it?" We're back where we started, near the entrance, about to leave. 

Theo has one request. He wants to see the . . . I expect he'll say dinosaurs or that lovely stuffed eagle that we saw . . . but, no, he wants to see the sandpiper exhibit. Again. Go figure.