Alaska Marine Highway celebrates 50 years

CORDOVA – The Alaska Marine Highway celebrates 50 years of service in 2013.

The ferry system was started by two Haines locals in 1948 before the state took it over in 1963.

There are now 11 ferries that span 3,500 miles from Alaska to Washington.

On a soggy afternoon, the Chenega waited in Whittier as cars piled with good loaded onto the ship bound for Cordova.

Because there’s not road to the town many residents choose to take the Marine Highway.

“We look like the Grapes of Wrath when we come back because we’re so full. And I think everyone else does that too because the costs are so high in Cordova for groceries,” said Lanada Cunningham.

She and her husband Bob headed home after a big shopping trip in Anchorage. Bob is a Cordova native and remembers what travel was like before the ferry.

”Back in the old days originally we had to take Pete Nicholoff and he had a barge with a couple of planks that you run your car down on,” laughed Bob. “Then he’d go to Valdez when he had four automobiles. So you didn’t have any choice at the time. It was when he had four people.”

Bob said he was thrilled when the Alaska Marine Highway established regular routes with the Chilkat.

“It was great. I think it took eight cars. I can’t remember exactly but I think the old Chilkat did. I went on my honeymoon with my first wife,” said Bob. His wedding day was supposed to be March 27, 1964, the infamous day a 9.2 magnitude earthquake rocked Alaska.

He and his bride-to-be waited a week to get married. “We rode the ol’ Chilkat over to Valdez then went all over the state,” said Bob.

While it’s a lifeline to the outside for residents, tourists also find it a great way to travel.

“This is exciting. What a way to see the state and to get to some remote areas. To get to Cordova you don’t just drive there,” said Ron Baker from California.

That’s why the ferry is the mode of choice for many so they can take their cars with them and explore even more of the Last Frontier.