The history of the Delta Junction area is tied closely to the development of different
modes of transportation through this portion of the Tanana River Valley. Increased
travel on the trail from Valdez to the gold fields near Fairbanks initiated commerce
in this area.
At some unknown time prior to 1904 Athabascan Indians inhabited portions of Alaska's
vast Interior region. Moose, caribou and sheep were abundant close to the rivers
and in the Granite Mountains. Fur-hearing animals were easily trapped and salmon
came up the Delta and Tanana Rivers to spawn. Wild berries grew in the surrounding
countryside. Numerous archaeological sites point to habitation by the Indians 10,000
years ago.
Roadhouses were built along the trail north and one, Bates Landing, was situated
at the confluence of the Delta and Tanana Rivers. It was at this point that travelers
had to cross the Tanana by a ferry. The Federal Government collected a toll on the
southern side of the river from all passengers heading north.
In 1906, John Hajdukovich bought the roadhouse and enlarged it. He operated the
lodge, had a steamship plying the Tanana, traded with the Indians for furs and took
hunting parties into the Granites.
Rika Wallen, who had come from Sweden as an 18-year-old girl, was at Tonsina and
walked to Big Delta to go to work for John. He was away a great part of the time
and finally owed Rika so much in back wages that he deeded the property over to
her. She also had an adjoining homestead. Rika's Roadhouse, on the National Register
of Historic Places, is now the focal point of Big Delta State Historical Park. (Editor's
note: see Stories of Delta for additional personal perspective about the country)
In 1939, Mary Hansen and her late husband, Bert, came by bus from Fairbanks to take
over a homestead on the north bank of the Tanana and to operate a roadhouse and
guide service. Mrs. Hansen now lives in Wasilla; her daughter, Irene Mead, the first
white baby born here, still resides in the Delta area.
Some old maps refer to Delta as Buffalo Center. This name was used because of the
bison herd which was introduced in 1928 and still ranges free in the area.
The building of the Alaska Highway in 1942 brought more development. A trail was
cut into the Clearwater Creek country for access to fishing and as a fire break.
People began homesteading in the area along the creek and the highway.
Allen Army Airbase (now Fort Greely) was among the series of airfields constructed
along the Alaska Highway during World War II. The field did not see much use after
1948, the Army started its Arctic Training Center (now known as the Northern Warfare
Training Center) and civil service workers began to settle in the area as the army
post grew and offered more employment.
The population center, which had grown around commerce at the two rivers, began
to move to the junction of the two highways and nearer the present army post, on
which construction started in the early 50s. By 1953, Delta had 13 bars and three
service stations, catering to the needs of construction workers and men stationed
at the post. Tourism began in mid century and continues to increase. (See an interesting
pioneer vacation along the southern portion of the Alaska Highway)
Gradual growth has continued in the ensuing years. Construction of the trans Alaska
pipeline created a temporary 'boom' economy but, with completion of that mammoth
project, community life returned to normalcy.