Harding Car

First was owned by the Great Northern Railway then sold to the Alaska Railroad in 1923. This was the year the First US President would ever visit Alaska. The 29th President Warren G Harding traveled by rail from D.C. To the State of Washington then by sea to Seward Alaska where he continued his trip to Nenana and Fairbanks. Not only was his mission to learn about what he could about the territory (at the time), but he also drove the last golden spike for the Alaska Railroad completing its mainline between Seward and Fairbanks. The consist had three other passenger cars. However, he spent most of his time here in the Denali car. After Former President Warren Harding left Alaska, the Denali Car continued service on the Alaska Railroad until 1945. Parked in Nenana along the Tracks until the Alaska Railroad donated it to the City of Fairbanks in 1965 after being refurbished. In 1967 it moved to Pioneer Park inside the main entrance and to the right.