Subject: So. Studies/Sciences: Geography/Cultures

The Alaska Series

Alaska Highway: The Gravel Magnet

"Highly Recommended. Using detailed personal accounts from Yukon natives, this documentary explains why the U.S. hastily summoned the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct a highway connecting Edmonton, Alberta, to Fairbanks, Alaska. It is superior in its presentation, including the original 1940s radio broadcasts, and explores a segment of US history not often documented or discussed, yet of major consequence." -VRG Review
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, which immediately brought the United States into World War II, their threat to the west coast of North America and the Aleutian Islands was very real; it also made the often-discussed plan of constructing a connecting road from the contiguous U.S. to Alaska through Canada a reality. Difficult decisions had to be made quickly; native cultures of the Yukon and Alaska, as well as the environment in this area, would be affected; however, due to the seriousness of the situation, both the U.S. and Canadian governments agreed: the highway needed to be built. This historical documentary intertwines archival media formats, including original radio broadcasts during the 1940s, to review this important segment in U.S. history; it also reports on the impact on the environment and native cultures of the Yukon and Alaska. Produced by Why Not Productions. 09DR/CL IJSCA 60 min.
Also See: ALCAN Highway: Adventure Road to Alaska; Alaska 1, 2, 3; Alaska