Drive Down This Little-Traveled Back Road To Discover A Historic Schoolhouse In Alaska
By Megan McDonald
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Published April 10, 2020
If you want a dose of Alaskan history, and a very long drive, the one-room schoolhouse at Manley Hot Springs will deliver on both counts. This tiny town is located in the interior of the state, at the very end of the Elliot Highway. It is a wonderfully preserved historic schoolhouse that begs a visit if you are in the area!
Situated at the end of 160 mile drive from Fairbanks, this gorgeous little schoolhouse resides in the small town of Manley Hot Springs.
Manley Hot Springs is a small town with a population of 89 people. In its heyday in the early 1900's, it was bustling, and in 1910 had a population of over 500.
The big draw to the Manley Hot Springs area was their infamous hot springs.
There was a hot springs resort in town, but that went bankrupt. You can still visit the hot springs, now located on private property and inside Chuck and Gladys Dart's lovely greenhouse.
The school was founded in 1958, and is made out of logs.
The one-room schoolhouse was in operation from 1958 through 2008. This building saw fifty years of children learning.
The large windows let in plenty of light, and there was more than enough room for the small amount of children in the area.
The schoolroom is still populated with old desks, a blackboard, and the teaching accessories they used during this time period.
The schoolhouse is no longer in use, as a larger, more modern building now houses elementary through high school students.
The new school is named Manley Hot Springs Gladys Dart School, and is larger and more modern. It's amazing to visit the old school to compare the two in size and function!
There is an outhouse on the property that was used by all of the students.
In fact, most places in rural Alaska still utilize outhouses on a regular basis due to a lack of plumbing. It's not uncommon to come across them during your travels.
You can visit this historic schoolhouse on mile 160.7 of the Elliot Highway.
Located across the street from the hot springs, it's easily visible and painted bright white with red trim. If it's not available to get inside, you can still peek through the large glass windows located all over the schoolhouse.
Have you had the chance to visit this historic schoolhouse in Manley Hot Springs? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!
Learn a little more about what this small town is famous for, and The Hot Springs Hotel In Alaska That Will Leave You Feeling Completely Relaxed!
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Manley Hot Springs, AK 99756, USA