Artifact Archive

This sculpture commemorates the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, which has influenced the lives of all Alaskans in some way. The steel is 1/2" thick. It is unknown if the object was made from the actual pipeline, or not. Engraved on the back are the words "Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, July 19, 1976" and the name "Vince Barnabas". There is no record of who Vince is or whether he was the donor of the piece. While it memorializes an interesting piece of Alaska's history, the lack of documentation illustrates the importance of museum donations including some historical record for future generations. Information and photos for this column are provided by the Clausen Memorial Museum.