Alaska Film Archives

[Lewis Gibson films 1]
[Lewis Gibson films 1]
This footage was filmed in the mid-1960s and is labeled, “Tour with Visiting Relatives, Nova Scotia, snippet of UAF plaza, Chena Hot Springs, Alaska Highway Milepost Marker Fairbanks, Malemute Saloon, and Gold dredge.” The film contains scenes of family activities outside of Alaska, travel in Alaska, a circle of flags on the campus of University of Alaska Fairbanks, interior scenes of the museum at the university, Malemute Saloon in Ester, gold dredges, Joy Elementary School, and the Alaska Highway milepost marker in downtown Fairbanks.
[Lewis Gibson films 2]
[Lewis Gibson films 2]
AAF-13918 was filmed in 1964 and is labeled, “Earthquake Anchorage, Santa Claus House, and Liberty Campground.” The film contains scenes of the Matanuska Glacier, aftermath of the 1964 Alaska Earthquake in Anchorage, a damaged Mt. McKinley building, damaged homes and a damaged school, cracks in the ground, Alaska scenery and moose, a family camping and fishing, and the Santa Claus House in North Pole.
[Lewis Gibson films 3]
[Lewis Gibson films 3]
AAF-13919 was filmed in 1971 and is labeled, “Chena River, Discovery I and II, Speed Boat Race, Chena Hot Springs Pool, Davidson Ditch, Alaskaland, Forty Mile Area, Old Husky on Wheels, Buffalo Crossing Road, 1971.” The film contains scenes of the Riverboat Discovery sternwheeler in Fairbanks, views from along the Chena River, speedboats racing on the river, an indoor pool at Chena Hot Springs, old cabins and abandoned mining equipment, a man near Davidson Ditch, Alaska Railroad Engine 1 at Alaskaland, a sign for Fortymile Resource Management Area, a dredge, men riding small tracked vehicles through tall grass, mountain scenery, and bison near the roadside.
[Lewis Gibson films 4]
[Lewis Gibson films 4]
AAF-13920 was filmed in 1971 and is labeled, “Wildlife, Chena River, Riverboat Discovery Tour, Alaskaland, Downtown Fairbanks, 1971.” The film contains scenes of tourists and sites during a Riverboat Discovery tour near Fairbanks, flowers on the University of Alaska campus, bird skin and gut parkas at the university museum, animal mounts at the museum, more scenes from Riverboat Discovery tours, Alaskaland scenes including gold panning and cabins, a fanboat on the river, fishwheels on the river, looking north on Cushman Street in downtown Fairbanks, the Penneys building and parking lot, traffic on Second Avenue in Fairbanks, the Chena River, the Chamber of Commerce building and other buildings along the Chena River, and bars and cafes along First Avenue in downtown Fairbanks.
[Lewis Gibson films 5]
[Lewis Gibson films 5]
AAF-13921 was filmed between 1964 and 1967 and is labeled, “6.” Gibson filmed scenes during his time spent training to be a policeman in Alaska, including scenes at the rifle range around 1964. Scenes from the Washington DC area, including national football and baseball games, were filmed when Gibson attended the FBI Academy in 1964. Scenes from the 1967 flood and aftermath in downtown Fairbanks include high water underneath the Cushman Street Bridge, a boat passing flooded cars and the Union 76 Station on Barnette Street (likely viewed from the window of the fire department on Seventh Avenue), flooded neighborhoods, the Texaco Station, damaged railroad tracks, looking southward along a muddy Cushman Street, sandbags in the lawn of the Immaculate Conception Church, the Samson Hardware building, and Safeway. The film also contains scenes of the George Thiele family at Christmas. Some scenes in the film are double-exposed.