University to mark centennial of cornerstone dedication

June 29, 2015

Photo courtesy Alaska and Polar Regions Collections, Elmer E. Rasmuson Library. Laying of the cornerstone of the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines July, 4 1915.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks will celebrate a major marker in its 100-year history Monday, July 6 when it rededicates the original cornerstone for the Alaska Agricultural College and School of Mines.

The celebration will begin at 11 a.m. at Troth Yeddha’ Park, near the University of Alaska Museum of the North, where university officials and Alaska Native leaders will lead a blessing of the future site of the indigenous studies center. The Troth Yeddha’ initiative is one of the university’s three centennial fundraising campaigns.

Following the blessing, drummers will lead a procession down Yukon Drive to Cornerstone Plaza. A reception will follow in the Great Hall. At 1 p.m., the rededication ceremony will begin near the Duckering and Bunnell Buildings.

The cornerstone was placed on the bluff that would eventually become the university during a ceremony July 4, 1915. It remained on display in Cornerstone Plaza until 2012, when construction on the new engineering began and it was moved to storage for protection. On July 6, the cornerstone will return to public display for the university’s next 100 years.

The celebration is free and open to the public. Free parking is available in the Nenana Lot across from the Patty Center. Shuttles will run from the lot to Troth Yeddha’ Park every 15 minutes.

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