8/28/2009 Sign Post Forest

Bob and I have heard so much about this "forest" and today we get to see it.

We put in a really long day on the road today. I didn't take too many scenery pictures because I spent most of the day reading. It just passes the time faster for me. Bob isn't the greatest conversationalist when we're towing because he's always paying attention to noises and gages and traffic and his total attention is on what he's doing. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining because when all of your worldly possessions are in the truck with you or in the rig attached to the truck and said rig is your HOME, its best that the driver is totally focused!

So here are a few scenery pictures.

In the early evening we finally reached our destination. The Sign Post Forest in Watson Lake.

In 1942, during construction of the Alaska Highway, the US Army Corp of Engineers erected mileage posts at their camps that listed places, distances and directions in the Yukon, other Canadian cities, cities within the United States of America and also other parts of the world. One of these posts was erected at the Wye, the corner of the Alaska Highway and the road to Watson Lake Airport, where the Sign Post Forest stands today. The original post is the only post of its type to survive from the Alaska Highway construction.

Carl Lindley, a homesick soldier, added his hometown sign to the army signpost and started a time-honored tradition. People from all over the world continue to add their own hometown signs to the Sign Post Forest on a daily basis in the spring summer and fall.

In 1992, Carl Lindley returned with his wife, Eleanor, to Watson Lake for the first time since his departure in 1943. He was overwhelmed when he saw the size of the Sign Post Forest. As we were.

The Sign Post Forest has been protected and nurtured over the years by the citizens of Watson Lake.

The Sign Post Forest in one of the best know attractions along the highway from Dawson Creek, BC to Fairbanks, Alaska.

Here are pictures of the Forest and believe me, this is only a portion of the signs here.

The signs are counted every year. Last count? 65,164 signs

Just row after row after row.....

All kinds of things are used to make a sign.

We looked to see if we could find any from Delaware.

The people from Bear and Dover obviously did not take the same route. Their mileage number are way too far apart.

We were just simply amazed by the whole thing.

Of course we had to leave our sign. We added a license plate from Delaware.