"The Line"

From 1905 until the mid 1950s, the stretch of 4th Avenue between Barnette and Cushman Streets was a “Red Light” district. Small cabins, some no bigger than 6 by 9 feet, were tightly packed along both sides of the street, and the area was surrounded by a 12-foot board fence. The fence was built to protect the delicate sensibilities of women and children, while openings on either end provided access for delivery trucks and “pedestrians.” According to research by University of Alaska Fairbanks students in 1940, the Fairbanks red light district ranked high among the top ten city industries and was one of the last in Alaska to close, still gen­erating at least $100,000 a year in revenue up to its closure in the mid 1950s. By the way, the closure was not the result of local initia­tive, but ordered by the federal government. To view some of these cabins, visit Pioneer Park.