History & Culture
Nondalton school children, around 1947.
Photo courtesy of Margaret Jones
Lake Clark National Park & Preserve is dedicated to preserving history and passing along an appreciation of our shared history to the public and to the next generation. The Park has responsibilities that include stewardship of historic buildings, museum collections, archaeological sites, cultural landscapes, oral and written histories, and ethnographic resources. Archeologists, historic architects, curators, ethnographers, and historians work with the community to preserve these resources because they are important components of our shared national and personal identity. History is a part of who we were, who we are, and who we will be. 
Check out this new video! Dr. Michael Etnier describes how animal bones from archaeological sites provide clues for what the landscape looked like in the past and how our world has changed over time.... 
People make history. Lake Clark's first settlers came to the region following the Last Great Ice Age, interacting with one another in the centuries to follow. Russian explorers and missionaries arrived in the 18th century and were succeeded by Euro-American prospectors, trappers, and entrepreneurs. Throughout, the Alaska Native community retains traditions and languages, and there is a mix of various ethnicities in the area founded upon a collaborative history. 
What makes a place special and worthy of extra attention? Lake Clark National Park & Preserve is responsible for numerous sites with ancient and historic remains, and those places with significant historical meaning. Several of these locations are so unique that they have been given special designations on the National Register of Historic Places. History happens. Find out where, read more about Lake Clark's special places... 
Stories are shared history. Lake Clark National Park & Preserve has created several books about the history of the area and the people who live here. Many books are made in partnership with community members, the University of Alaska, and Alaska Geographic. We invite you to learn more about History & Culture and how Lake Clark National Park works to preserve it... 
Lake Clark National Park & Preserve's Collections Team preserves objects and specimens from a diverse range of subjects, as well as their associated documentation and archival collections. These collections tell the story of Lake Clark, its peoples, cultures and events that shaped our history. Explore the Park's Natural and Cultural museum collections...
What to do if you find Artifacts (historic items count, too!) while visiting the Park: RECORD THE LOCATION with your GPS, on a map, or make a sketch referencing prominent landmarks. Estimate the size of the site. PHOTOGRAPH the artifacts in place. Include a common object for scale, such as a pencil or coin. Photograph the site area and the surrounding lanscape. NOTE ANY DISTURBANCES, human or natural to the site. Find out more about what you can do to help preserve Alaska's past... 
The Lake Clark Jukebox Project - a University of Alaska Fairbanks program - consists of photo albums and recorded interviews that represent different, but overlapping, historic themes. These include stories about early education, reindeer herding, the establishment of a National Park, trails, transportation, and Dena'ina technology. Listen to storytelling by Native community members and watch slideshows of historic photographs... The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the NPS National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources. 
Teaching With Historic Places uses properties listed in the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places to enliven history, social studies, geography, civics, and other subjects. TwHP has created a variety of products and activities that help teachers bring historic places into the classroom. NHPA Section 106 Compliance...why we survey and monitor |
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When the glaciers start melting, |
Did You Know?
Female caribou have antlers, but female moose do not. Male moose and all caribou shed their antlers in the late fall or early winter, and grow new antlers in the spring. Caribou and moose are the only two members of the deer family found in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve.