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Armed Forces
Hooah! Heard, Understood, Acknowledged, Here... in Fairbanks, the Golden Heart of Alaska!
We want to welcome you, members of the Armed Forces of the United States of America, patriots one and all to the Fairbanks region. Let Explore Fairbanks help you go through this permanent change of station (PCS). We've crafted these pages just for military personnel and their dependents to discover new surroundings and opportunities. We hope to make the most of your experience in Alaska and Fairbanks as an extraordinary duty station. Jump to resources.
Fairbanks’ sub-arctic location is at the 65th parallel latitude. Here you can enjoy all the amenities of a charming downtown, a thriving arts community, phenomenal schools (elementary through university-level), a rich Alaska Native heritage and authentic Alaskan activities and countless outdoor attractions. There are endless opportunities to explore the sheer beauty of a sparkling winter day, the summer's everlasting sunshine or to scan the skies for the captivating northern lights.
There are many pages to explore on our website. These include relocation resources, things to do in Alaska’s Golden Heart, tourism industry employment and volunteering for local events, and many other activities for everyone.
WWII and the Alaska Highway
The military became intertwined with Fairbanks during World War II. During the war, it became evident that a northernmost post was necessary to enable the United States to assist European allies and the desire for a road to Alaska became a priority. Expedited by the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, construction began on the Alaska Highway in March of 1942 at Mile 0 in Dawson Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada, and joined the Richardson Highway in Delta Junction en route to Fairbanks a mere eight months later. An amazing military feat, the 1,390-mile-long (2,237 km) glorious, rough-and-tumble Alaska Highway rambles through some of the toughest, most remote terrain on the planet and still offers a most beautiful and pristine journey today.
"Explore Local" in Alaska's Golden Heart
Explore Fairbanks extends a special invitation to local Armed Services personnel and their friends and family to engage in all the incredible activities, attractions and tours generally geared towards visitors on their trip to Alaska’s Golden Heart. Although locals are always invited to partake in all the cool things to see and do in our river city, we are asking Fairbanks residents to get out and “Explore Local.” Travel industry professionals are resilient and caring neighbors who truly appreciate other Fairbanksans as well as travelers from all over the world. More
Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center
If you want to learn about your new surroundings from local experts, stop by the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center located downtown. Beautiful, educational and free to all visitors, the Center has brochures, maps, free Wi-Fi, internet kiosks and local walking tours. More importantly, this regional center has friendly, knowledgeable staff to answer your questions. The Center’s 9,000-square-foot exhibit hall features outstanding displays and dioramas showcasing Interior Alaska’s people, wildlife, landscapes and seasons. Additionally, you can enjoy free films and programs on Alaska’s natural and cultural history. This is a great place to introduce your visiting friends and family to Alaska’s Interior and Arctic. More
Local Events Calendar
Whether during Winter Season, Aurora Season or Midnight Sun Season, attending local events, concerts, fairs and festivals is an excellent way to get to know your new duty station. See incredible ice sculptures, watch an Alaska Native athlete kick a sealskin ball that hangs nine feet in the air, feel the emotion and energy of a dog musher embarking on an epic 1,000-mile quest, attend a festival celebrating the sun or one of four 4th of July celebrations – there are community-wide events happening in Fairbanks that you can enjoy throughout the year. More
Tour Fairbanks in Virtual 360°
Imagine yourself here. Immerse in Fairbanks 360-degree video and imagery. Grab a front-row seat as you experience the midnight sun, the northern lights and popular attractions and tours. Play and view using your smartphone or computer. Scroll, pinch, pan and move around the scene. Look up, look down, look all around and imagine yourself here. And stay tuned, there's always more to come! More
Activities, Attractions & Tours
With the midnight summer sun shining nearly 24 hours a day and the northern lights dancing overhead during Aurora Season, Fairbanks is simply bursting with things to do. From top-rated visitor attractions, concerts and performances, art galleries, historic sites, Alaska Native culture, spectacular events and access to the Alaskan wilderness, Fairbanks and nearby North Pole offer you adventure in authentic Alaskan style. More
Local Military Discounts
From museum admission to lodging discounts, our local visitor industry partners love to support our troops and their families. We maintain a list of military discounts that are available in the Fairbanks area, as well as in Denali National Park (home of the highest mountain in North America) and other parts of Alaska. If you don't see a business on the list, just ask a front desk clerk, server or a cashier and they will gladly let you know if there is a discount available. More
Tourism Employment
Finding a job in Fairbanks while your spouse is in the military is easier than you might think. In fact, as a travel destination, Fairbanks has many visitor industry jobs waiting for someone like you. Would you like to be a guest ambassador, tour guide, wait server, driver, cleaner, cashier or desk attendant? These jobs and more are part of the vibrant and upbeat tourism industry offering employment opportunities in Fairbanks and surrounding areas. Additionally, there professional opportunities such as teaching in the local school district and many other opportunities associated with our vibrant community. You can also check with Explore Fairbanks for any scheduled job fairs in the area. In the meantime, you can browse the following listings to find summer, winter and year-round options for employment. More
Volunteer for the Visitor Industry
Learn a lot about the area and then share your knowledge with others by volunteering in the community. Golden Heart Greeters assist at the Visitor Information Centers at Pioneer Park and the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. They also help at meetings and conventions with registration, information and organization. You may be paired with visitors to show what you know and love about the Fairbanks region and Alaska thereby enriching the visitors’ experience. More
Relocation Resources
If you are new to the community, you are part of a military-friendly area. Interior Alaska is home to four military installations and thousands of personnel stationed here. Fairbanks is the second-largest metropolitan area in the state and serves as the regional economic and health care center for the Interior and northern Alaska. If you are looking to move to this beautiful city, check out the resources of the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce to get to know all that Fairbanks has to offer! More
Housing in Fairbanks
Buying, Renting or Building? This resource guide is for residents who are considering taking on the responsibility of heating, lighting, servicing and maintaining a home in Alaska’s Golden Heart. This booklet isn’t meant to give you all the answers but will, hopefully, give you a general understanding of the kinds of questions to ask, the kinds of answers to be listening for and some of the places you can go to get further information when Buying, Leasing or Renting a Home in Interior Alaska. More
Golden Heart Alaskan
"Life’s pace moves quickly, and we often miss the beautiful complexity and delicacy of the world around us; but not in Fairbanks. Fairbanks inherently presents rapid seasonal changes, geographic remoteness and contending with larger-than-life ecosystems that can make people feel insignificant. Herein, lies the intangible value of Interior Alaska. A pause for consideration and a moment to observe cascading views of majestic landscapes augmented with abundant wildlife commands a new perspective to our intertwined life. The people of Fairbanks cherish and value the unique lifestyle Fairbanks demands. It is a place that will forever hold a slice of the heart as ‘home’ to anyone that has lived here."
-Cameron Roxberry,
AH-64 Apache Pilot, US Army
