Harry Karstens -- Denali Main Visitor Center, Denali NP, AK USA
N 63° 43.882 W 148° 54.919
6V E 405430 N 7068497
Harry Karstens was the first superintendent of what is now known as Denali National Park, formerly Mount McKinley National Park
Waymark Code: WM173E4
Location: Alaska, United States
Date Posted: 12/01/2022
Views: 2
Harry Karstens served from 1921-1928 as the first superintendent of Mount McKinley National Park, which was renamed Denali National Park in the 1980, with the name Mt. McKinley still affixed to the park's tallest peak. Mt. McKinley was finally renamed Mt. Denali in 2015.
This historical marker honoring Harry Karstens stands to the left of the ranger desk inside the main visitor center to Denali National Park.
The marker reads as follows:
"HARRY KARSTENS
Harry Karstens served as the first superintendent of this park, from 1921-1928. He was the one who set the tone for the new wilderness park and single-handedly got it up and running.
Starting from nothing, the pioneer superintendent built the park headquarters, the first visitor facilities, sled dog kennels, and the Park Road. He hired the first Rangers and instituted backcountry patrols that all but eliminated poaching on parklands. Along the way, he coped with logistical challenges of every imaginable kind.
He is remembered as a trailblazer -- the one who began it all."
Marker Name: Harry Karstens
Marker Type: City
Addtional Information:
Located inside the main visitor center at Denali National Park
Date Dedicated / Placed: unknown
Marker Number: N/A
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Visit Instructions:
Preferred would be to post a photo of you OR your GPS at the marker location. Also if you know of any additional links not already mentioned about this bit of Alaska history please include that in your log.