Section House at Wasilla

All the Anchorage Museum’s digital content is the property of the Museum or its licensors and are protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws unless identified otherwise. You may not use, reproduce, distribute, or modify any content from the Website without prior written consent. Copyright authority for all Anchorage Museum materials shared through this database has been transferred to the Chickaloon Village Traditional Council. These materials are shared with users for the purpose of cultural restoration and preservation, under the protection of Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND (attribution, non-commercial, no derivatives) licensing. Users are granted access with the understanding that the materials are to be used solely for educational purposes, with respect and honor for the Ahtna Dene Peoples. For more information, visit: https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/cclicenses/

Traditional Knowledge Labels:

Licensing Options:

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Source:

Jack H. Floyd Collection

Publisher:

Anchorage Museum

Identifier:

B1957.005.217

Subject:

Railroads, Matanuska Valley, Buildings, Transportation

Type:

Digital Image

Format:

Print Photograph

Access image

Description:

Print Photograph, Alaska Railroad - Matanuska to Caswell, Wasilla. Recto: A.E.C. G -1964 H.G. Kaiser. Section House at Wasilla, April 14 - 1919.

Cultural Narrative:

The development of the Alaska Railroad had a profound negative impact on Alaska Native Peoples. Although it was intended to connect communities across the state, the construction of the railroad led to an influx of new populations, the destruction of thousands of acres of pristine land, the creation of pollution where there was none, and in some cases, the diversion of waterways that disrupted salmon populations—an essential food source for Alaska Native Peoples. These destructive changes disrupted the Ahtna way of life, and their lasting effects continue to influence the work of the Tribe's Environmental Stewardship Department, which is dedicated to reversing this damage.

Traditional Knowledge:

The Matanuska Branch of the Alaska Railroad lies within the ancestral homelands of the Idlughet Qayeht’ana (Eklutna Village Dena’ina) and Nay'dini'aa Na' Kayax (Chickaloon Native Village). Although these lands were never ceded and are no longer under the legal ownership of either Tribe, both Tribes, along with the broader Dena'ina and Ahtna communities, work collaboratively to ensure these lands are responsibly stewarded and that their history is appropriately acknowledged.

Title:

Section House at Wasilla

Protocol:

Cets'e'tnaey (Iron People) - Public Access

Community:

Nay'dini'aa Na' Kayax

Category:

Land Stewardship

Keywords:

A.E.C., Alaska Railroad, Matanuska, Ts'itonhtna', Caswell, Wasilla, Benteh, H.G.Kaiser, Section House, Railroad Tracks, Trees

Original Date Description:

AEC G1264 HG Kaiser

Creator:

Selena Ortega-Chiolero

Contributor:

H.G. Kaiser

Rights:

Taking back control of how Indigenous stories are being told, accessed, and used is vital for the success of reclaiming Tribal sovereignty. Chickaloon Village Traditional Council (CVTC) recognizes that the cultural knowledge and heritage of Nay'dini'aa Na' Kayax is collective, and an intellectual legacy of a whole people accumulated over time and shared with other Ahtna Dene groups. Owing to disrupted histories around the documentation of these materials, we may not always have the full information about the Western tradition of the "copyright holder" of works in our collection. CVTC wants to be able to share these valuable materials responsibly as they are important connectors to our history and cultural heritage. CVTC policy is to make these materials available to the extent possible. CVTC continues to evaluate and monitor the rights of all its shared digital collections and welcomes public comments regarding these materials, especially from those who identify as members of the broader Ahtna Dene community.

Traditional Knowledge Labels:

Licensing Options:

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Source:

Jack H. Floyd Collection

Publisher:

Chickaloon Village Traditional Council

Identifier:

AM.B1957.005.217

Subject:

Railroads, Matanuska Valley, Buildings, Resource Extraction, Colonization, Land Clearing, Transportation

Type:

Digital Image

Format:

Print Photograph


	Created: Friday, February 13, 2026 - 15:00


	TK Attribution Label (TK A) This label is being used to correct historical mistakes or exclusions pertaining to this material. This is especially in relation to the names of the people involved in performing or making this work and/or correctly naming the community from which it originally derives. As a user you are being asked to also apply the correct attribution in any future use of this work.


	TK Non-Commercial Label (TK NC) This material has been designated as being available for non-commercial use. You are allowed to use this material for non-commercial purposes including for research, study or public presentation and/or online in blogs or non-commercial websites. This label asks you to think and act with fairness and responsibility towards this material and the original custodians.


	Created: Friday, February 13, 2026 - 15:00

Section House at Wasilla

Alaska Railroad - Matanuska Branch Map, 1918

TK Attribution Label (TK A)

TK Non-Commercial Label (TK NC)

Alaska Railroad - Matanuska Branch Map, 1918

TK Attribution Label (TK A)

TK Non-Commercial Label (TK NC)

TK Multiple Communities (TK MC)