|
December 14, 2008
Arcticulates ®
Focusing on Alaska's Beauty
Author: K. Fields
Christmas in North Pole!
Introducing
North Pole, Alaska... North
Pole was incorporated Jan 16, 1953 and lives up to
all the expectations of what North Pole should look and be like.
It is very cold 9 months of the year, and full of festive
lighting and Christmas cheer all year round, and of course has a
special place called "Santa Claus House".
Con and Nellie Miller arrived in Fairbanks in 1949. In order
to make a living and settle down, they became merchants and fur buyers
in the surrounding villages. Con wore a red suit and soon
became established with the children as Santa Claus. In 1952 the
Millers started building a trading post about 13 miles from Fairbanks,
in the soon to be pretty little city called North Pole.
Con was recognized by a child who called him
Santa... and asked if he was building a new home, which became the
inspiration of naming this new trading post as Santa Claus House.
The Santa
Claus House in North Pole Alaska
|
Photo by K Fields
The
Millers have gone through much here in Alaska
and so has their business... the Santa Claus House has been
recognized in many publications, locally, nationally and
internationally. The family tradition continues as the newest
generation builds on the past, and looks forward to the future.
This place has had thousands upon thousands of visitors
that enjoy the beautiful building and the wonderful array of
gift items that fill the store to the brim, including a little hot
coffee/chocolate nook to relax and soak in the happy colorful
atmosphere of the place.
Beautiful
Wall Murals
|
Photo by K Fields
This
place is not just a trading store anymore, it
is full of wonderful surprises every where you look and they offer a
special service to the children all over the world. They
write and send letters back to children who write to Santa in
North Pole..
For quite a few years they would hand write to any child that wrote to
Santa Claus in North Pole, and answer all their little concerns and
questions. And now over 1 million letters later... as the
world has progressed into email and Internet... Well... So has Santa
and all his helpers. They have an email letter that they send
out at to any request, and each one is different, so you can send a
request for ;many children at once and each one of their email
answers will be different.
An Artistic Touch To Add To The Christmas Atmosphere
|
Photo by K Fields
There
is a small ice sculpture park right next to
the Santa Claus house that has some beautiful ice sculptures that I
will be showing on my next post. These amazing artists take
huge blocks of ice and then carve out a beautiful design in them; then
to add to the already sparkle of ice they use various lighting effects
to light up the beautiful ice creations during the darkest of days.
Stunning Ice Sculpture of Santa, Sleigh, And Reindeers
Photo by K Fields
Next to the Santa Clause house stands this humongous
Fiberglass Santa,
it is 42 feet tall including the base and weighs approximately 900
pounds. He was built in the 1960's by Wes Stanley in Washington.
Then was shipped to various places and soon ended up in
Anchorage on displayed for a while, then put into storage, until Con
seen it and decided that Santa belonged in the North Pole.
42 Foot
Fiberglass Santa Checking His List
Photo by K Fields
If you would like to read
more about Santa Claus
House or know of some children who would love to have a letter or email
from Santa then click here: Santa
Claus House
Christmas
Tree Decorated with Firewood and Fishing Poles
Photo by K Fields
Merry
Christmas!
Happy
Holidays!
Later...
K Fields
See also:
Snowy Days
You are welcome to comment in the box below.
Please keep in mind that this is a child friendly site.
Thank You!
I look forward to meeting you and reading your thoughts.
|
|
|
