If you require to learn about a position , you could always pick up a textbook . But if you want to get to know a shoes , you ’re go to have to dig up a piddling deeper . And what you find there might be a little unusual . The Strange States series will take you on a practical tour of America to expose the strange people , places , things , and outcome that make this land such a unique position to call home .
This week we ’re point to America ’s last outstanding frontier to discover the quirky sights and sounds of Alaska .
The Hammer Museum
Dave Pahl has been gather up paw putz since he move to Alaska in 1973 . For many years , he and his married woman Carol lived on a small plot of land that had no running water or electricity , so keeping plenty of tools around for home repair became a necessity . During the snow - induced downtime of cold Alaskan wintertime , Dave refit sometime hammerheads with newfangled handles , give him a nifty appreciation for nail driver , as well as an ever - growing collecting of unique specimen . By 2001 , Dave ’s cock collection had become too magnanimous to keep at house , so he and Carol buy a pocket-size house on Main Street in Haines , Alaska , and get to the world ’s onlyHammer Museum .
It might sound like the most boring place in America , but the diverseness in the compendium never fails to dumbfound visitors . Among the item on show is a small malleus that smacked against the tables at Harlem ’s Cotton Club in the twenties to show the crowd ’s appreciation for a musical bit . Another , a ball of solid dolerite , was used by ancient Egyptians to rip off stone for the third pyramid at Giza . There are Masonic lodge hammers used to call meetings to society , warhammers from China and Rome , and even a hammer used to test the quality of cheese . The ingathering includes mallet made from Waterford Crystal , whale blubber , and one consisting of hundreds of sheets of report . But the pride and joy of the museum is an 800 - year old Tlingit “ warrior ’s pick , ” a hammer that was used to whop an unwilling slave across the head so the body could be buried as a forfeiture when building a new longhouse . Pahl found the ancient tool while tote up a basement to the construction shortly before the museum opened .
If you ever find oneself yourself in Haines , Alaska , you ca n’t miss the museum — there ’s a 20 - foot statue of a malleus in the front . At any given time you ’ll find out about 1500 hammers on display from a collection that reportedly numbers over 7000 specimens .
The Fur Rondy
Even with modern widget like central heat , high - speed internet access , and 100 of television channel , Alaskan winters can be pretty problematical . So it ’s no surprisal that after so many months of cabin fever , many folks ask to get out of the house and blow off some steam . Since 1935 , Alaska ’s largest city , Anchorage , has find this sweet release with a fete of sport called the Fur Rendezvous , or “ Fur Rondy ” for short .
create to receive the mountain - dwelling mineworker and trappers that make it at the first preindication of spring for sell their winter catch , the Fur Rondy earlier feature middling standard acrobatic events like skiing , hockey , basketball , boxing , and a children ’s sled dog subspecies . While many of those competition are still going strong , over prison term , quirkier contests have been total to a revolving lineup of events that reflect the unique culture of Alaska . Today , one of the highlights of the festival is the outhouse races , where team see who can push an earth-closet on ski across the finish job first .
The Snowshoe Softball tournament is always fun to observe , as is the tight - paced action of Yukigassen — a game of capture the pin played with snowballs — where the winning team run low on torepresent the U.S.in the World Championship tourney in Japan . The coke - packed streets of Anchorage play host to two major contests : The Frostbite Footrace features serious challenger and fun runner wearing the crazy costumes they can detect , and the World Championship Sled Dog Race , a heavy three - day competition with some of the best musher and snow dog from around the world . And not to be outgo by Pamplona , Spain , the Rondy has the running play of the Reindeer , where Santa ’s hooved supporter sprint through crowds of costumed runner who seek to continue out front of the antlers coming from behind .
For those less athletically prepared , the Fur Rondy has plenty to offer , include native artwork , blow sculptures , carnival rides , point performances at the Goose Theatre , the Rondy on Ice figure skating show , and one of the festival ’s original events : the fur , trumpet , and hide auctions , feature the finest in animal pelts to keep you quick on cold Alaskan nights . you’re able to also buy a ticket for the long - running Miner ’s and Trapper ’s Charity Ball to see the crowning of a newfangled “ Mr. Fur Face ” in the Alaska State Beard and Moustache Contest .
The festival has already closed for 2013 , but be certain to tally theofficial websitefor a full agenda of next year ’s engagement and outcome .
Know the level behind an strange person or place in your state ? Maybe a little - known urban caption that others should pick up ? Is your Department of State home to the big ball of string or a creepy-crawly abandoned report park ? Is there a fun fete that everyone should attend ? Tell me about it on Twitter ( @spacemonkeyx ) and perchance I ’ll include it in a future edition of Strange States !
