Alaska 2025 – 28

After visiting Creamer’s Field, we drove past the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum exit. We drove in to see what it was and it was hidden in the back of the Wedgewood Resort. It was a very unassuming building. Nevertheless, we decided to make a trip there as we had never been to an auto museum before. After entering the building, we found ourselves totally amazed at the amount of cars, fashions, photographs, and videos. It was almost overwhelming. The entire facility was one of the, if not the best, curated museums we have ever seen. From their brochure:

• Over 95 rare U.S. automobiles and motorcycles, including sole survivors, from the late 1800s to just before World War II.
• The largest vintage clothing display in the Pacific Northwest.
• Historic Alaskan photographs and archival videos Note: we enjoyed a great archival video of Van Ness Street (SF) just four days before the earthquake and fire. There were apparently no rules or regulations in place for foot,horse, cablecar, trolley or automobile traffic at the time.

Yes, Michael, Fairbanks DOES have normal weather days. Actually, it was hot for this area.

This 1905 Advance Traction Engine was outside, near the entrance.

After entering the museum the first exhibit is one of motorcycles. Little did we know, at this point, the extent of the collection.

• Several midget racers were displayed, they were used for racing in the 1920-1930 era. The yellow car in the front is a modified go-kart.
• Alaska’s first “snow machine”, two motorcycles bolted together to traverse the snow.
• One of five snow cats delivered to Alaska. There was a pretty neat accompanying video showing the machine in operation. The tractor moved in the snow via the spinning, ribbed cylinders which propelled the machine forward. This contraption never proved worthy and was considered a failure.

This is the one and only 1905 Sheldon. This car was built by 22 year old Bobby Sheldon to impress his girlfriend. Sheldon had never seen an automobile except in magazines. He built a wooden frame and axles, used salvaged wheels and suspension from a discarded wagon, made a tin hood, two bar stools for seats, (quickly upgraded for his girlfriend), used a gas pipe for a steering tiller, used carbide miner’s lamps for headlights and installed a brass bulb horn from Sears & Roebuck. The engine, a one cylinder, two cycle marine motor was salvaged from a sunken boat, sat cross ways between the front wheels and powered the rear wheels by means of bicycle chains. This was the first “automobile” in all of Alaska. See Wikipedia – Bobby Sheldon.

Two old-timers on an old-time automobile.

• (Beige)1935 Pierce-Arrow 845 Silver Arrow 385 cu.in., 140 hp., 4,800lbs., $2,850 – $3,295. The Silver Arrow was so ahead of its time that auto body styles didn’t catch up until the 1950s.
• (Brown)1932 Chrysler Custom Imperial Series CI. Convertible Sedan 8-cylinder inline I-head, 384.3 cu.in., 135 hp, 96 mph, 11 mpg, 5,125 lbs., $3,595.
• (Black) 1932 Cadillac Series 452-B V-16 Imperial Limousine by Fleetwood 16-cylinder, V-type overhead valve, 3 speed, 165 hp., 452 cu.in., 5,905 lbs, 90 mph, $5,445. This is the type of car that Herbert Hoover rode in his official capacity, and later purchased a nearly identical one for his personal use. It was the world’s first production V-16.
• (Black) 1931 Cord Series L-29 Cabriolet 8-cylinder inline Lycoming head, 3 speed, 298.6 cu.in., 125 hp., 4,500 lbs., 76 mph, $2,495. This was America’s first mass produced front wheel drive car.
• (Black) 1931 Marmon Sixteen Limousine OHV V-16, 491 cu.in., 200 hp, 3 speed, 5,400 lbs, $6,100. Amelia Earhart rode in the back of a Marmon Sixteen to receive her award just after completing her transatlantic flight.

• (Green) 1914 Moline-Knight Model MK-50 Touring. In a 1913 test, a Moline-Knight motor ran a remarkable 357 hours non-stop at full throttle without any adjustments, setting a endurance record. It was manufactured in East Moline, IL.
• (Lt Blue) 1918 Biddle Series H Town Car Of the 1700+ units built, only four remain. This was the first automobile that had a female automobile stylist. The woodwork and upholstery were remarkable. This car had 34 HP and achieved 15-20 MPG. Cost: $4,500.
• Beige) 1912 Premier Series N Model 6-60 Roadster. An owner proclaimed “Its got a lot of go, and almost no whoa”. The engine produce 60 HP and had a unique air start system, requiring 150 psi to the cylinders. The car weighed 3,100 lbs. and sold for $3,750. It was manufactured in Indianapolis, IN.
• (Beige, w/aluminum)) 1925 Locomobile Model 48. Known as the “American Mercedes”. The engine was 525 cubic inches, 103 HP, and cost was $7,400 – $10,250.
• (Red) 1912 American Underslung Type 34 “Tourist” 5-Passenger Touring Car Known as America’s first sports car. Maximum speed was 60 MPH and cost was $2,250.

• Hairwork is a term for the use of human hair in jewelry and larger framed artwork. Since the middle ages, hair has been used as a keepsake of the beloved. Cameos with black veils and jet black jewelry was also fashionable.
• Victorian mourning etiquette required that an upper class widow wear black for two years.

There were a plethora of period dresses, clothing, jewelry and accessories complementing the automobiles. It is truly an automobile and period clothing collaboration.

• (Green) 1917 Pierce-Arrow Model 66 A-4 Seven Passenger Touring 100+HP, 4 speed, 825 cu.in., 5,249 lbs., 8.5 mpg
• (Red) 1927 Stutz Vertical Eight Custom Series AA Black Hawk Boxtail Speedster 95 hp, 298.6 cu.in., 3,750 lbs., guaranteed to 80 mph, Cost $3,150 (view from rear) the boxtail added about 10 mph to the automobile and hindered “drafting” from following automobiles
• (Red) 1927 Stutz Vertical Eight Custom Series AA Black Hawk Boxtail Speedster (view from front).
• (Brown) 1921 Heine Velox V-12 Sporting Victoria 3 speed, 389.5 cu.in., 100 mph guaranteed, with four wheel braking and multi-beam headlights (both high and low beam). This was the most expensive car in the world at that time, with a list price of more than $25,000, $10,000 more than a Rolls Royce and at a time when a Ford Model T sold for $500.
• (Dk Blue) 1927 Lincoln Model L Imperial Victoria 90 hp, 358 cu.in., 3 speed, 70+ mph, 5,800 lbs. UNIQUE

The museum even held Santa’s Sleigh! (An early 1800’s Albany Cutter model!)

We would highly recommend this stop if you happen to be in Fairbanks, but plan on spending some time!!