Artifact Archive

Alaska Marine Highway System

The Alaska Marine Highway System--the Nation's only marine National Scenic Byway and All-American Road--dates back to 1948, when the Chilkoot Motorship

Lines began in Haines. The enterprise was purchased by the territory of Alaska in 1951 to promote transportation and business; and in 1959, voters approved $18 million to expand the fleet and build new docks. The M/V Malaspina's first Ketchikan stop actually caused a traffic jam of on-lookers. In time, the system grew to 35 vessels serving 3,500 miles of coastline, with 31

ports across Washington, Alaska and Canada....