Reader’s Theater: Building the ALCAN Highway (1942)
Saturday, August 29 at 2:00 PM
Join us for a special Reader’s Theater presentation exploring the remarkable story of the construction of the Alaska-Canada (ALCAN) Highway during World War II.
Built in just eight months between March and October 1942, the ALCAN Highway was one of the greatest engineering achievements of its time. Stretching more than 1,600 miles from Dawson Creek, British Columbia, to Delta Junction, Alaska, the route crossed some of the most challenging terrain in North America, including mountains, rivers, muskeg, and permafrost. The project required the construction of 130 bridges and over 8,000 culverts, creating a vital land connection between Alaska and the Lower 48 during a critical period of the war.
This interactive Reader’s Theater brings history to life through the letters and experiences of the African American soldiers of the 93rd, 95th, and 97th Engineer Regiments, whose contributions were instrumental to the highway’s completion. While the 97th Engineer Regiment features prominently in the surviving letters, all three regiments played a significant role in this historic undertaking. Audience members will have the opportunity to participate by reading selected parts and helping tell the story of these pioneering soldiers.
The presentation will be held in the atrium of the Alaska Veterans Museum, located at 411 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 201, inside the yellow Sunshine Building in downtown Anchorage.
Museum admission is free from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and all are welcome to attend.
Come experience the voices, challenges, and triumphs of the men who helped build the highway that connected Alaska to the continent and supported the Allied war effort.