Wheels and Wardrobes

Amidst the rugged beauty of Fairbanks, Alaska, lies an unexpected treasure—a vintage car museum that is among the world’s finest. While one might anticipate such marvels in the ‘Motor City’ of Detroit or the ‘Cradle of the Car’ in Stuttgart, it’s the Alaskan frontier that holds this gem. The Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum stands as a testament to the ingenuity of the past, nestled in a land more synonymous with wilderness than with wheels. It shares the stage with the likes of the Henry Ford Museum and the illustrious Mercedes-Benz Museum, yet it carves its own niche with a distinctive Alaskan spirit. But Fairbanks? Yes, Fairbanks—proving that even in the most unexpected places, the legacy and importance of the automobile endures.

Explorers and pioneers have long been driven by the quest for new passages, whether for trade, colonization, or the sheer thrill of discovery. This relentless pursuit has shaped much of human history. Whether it was finding a wagon-wheel passage over the Rockies, or the search for the Northwest Passage, a direct sea route from Europe to Asia through the Arctic Ocean, or flying an airplane across the Atlantic, we are always interested in getting places conveniently.

The allure of getting places may be motivated by the desire to spread the Gospel or the desire for the wealth of gold. We seem to have an innate need for technological advancements to allow us to get places with the least amount of discomfort. Thus, we have planes, ships, trains, and automobiles.

For people to thrive in the ruggedness of Alaska’s terrain, and to travel on land without the restriction of predefined rail routes or the seasonal temperament of water passageways, we need the automobile. Hence, it is entirely appropriate to find an auto museum in interior Alaska.

Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum tells the story of Alaska’s love of the automobile. It also illustrates the North's unique transportation challenges, including the navigation of glacial streams, frost heaves, challenging mountain ranges, bitter cold, and deep snow. Pictures throughout the museum show the difficulty of traveling through Alaska by the inhabitants.

Picture from the museum collection.

Picture from the museum collection.

The museum is very enjoyable. The displays are excellent, the signage is educational, and the automobiles are truly beautiful and wonderfully restored. The collection of automobiles is varied and includes many electric, steam-powered, and gasoline fueled vehicles. The vast majority are still operational. The exhibit is enhanced with the inclusion of a few vintage motorcycles and innovative snow machines.

Ford converted to be a snow machine

To see this vehicle in action, click on this link 1926 Fordson Snow Machine

Imagine a gallery where time stands still, and history dresses up in its Sunday best. Alongside many of the autos we saw period clothing showing the fashions of the time. There is even a tuxedo worn by Bing Crosby. As the men marvel at the intricate mechanisms that powered these vintage beauties, the ladies perused the garments that graced the figures of those who journeyed within. 

1906 Rambler

An interesting tidbit is an automobile created by an Alaskan visionary named Bobby Sheldon. Sheldon arrived in Alaska with his father during the Klondike Gold Rush. With no blueprint but the images etched in his mind from glossy magazine pages, Sheldon pieced together an auto using parts from a wagon, barstools, miner headlamps, and a motor from a sunken boat. He capped off his work with a brass bulb horn ordered from a Sears-Roebuck catalog. His goal was to impress a girl in town. Though she didn’t become his bride, he astonished the town. His ingenuity and fortitude made him the proud owner of the only automobile in all Alaska earning his place in history.

Bobby Sheldon's conglomeration of an auto

Replica of Sheldon's winning Model T racer used in first Alaskan auto race.

Alaska, a land of untamed beauty and unexpected surprises, has a way of shattering our expectations. Who would have thought that on top of permafrost land and widespread frontier that we would uncover a treasure trove of automotive history? These mechanical marvels, nestled in the heart of the Last Frontier, were not just relics; they were storytellers of those who were here years during the taming of Alaska’s wilderness.

1932 Chrysler Custom Imperial Series CL Convertible Sedan. (Allen's favorite)

1912 Premier

Beautiful Lincoln!

And as if the cars themselves weren’t enough to transport us to a bygone era, the clothing of the time added to our experience. Elegant garments once worn by pioneers and adventurers are draped alongside the vehicles that brought them places. The museum proved to be an unexpected education in the elegance and endurance of history’s wheels and wardrobes.

The wardrobe in this 1931 picture didn't quite fit with the museum's display (lol).