Tok originated as an Alaska Road Commission Camp for the construction of the Alcan and Glenn Highways in the 1940's. In 1946 Tok was designated a presidential townsite, in that same year the Alcan was opened to civilians and a post office and roadhouse were built in the community. The first school was started in 1947 in a room in the Alaska Road Commission building. The Tok Dog Mushers was founded in 1954, and that same year the U.S. Army began construction of the 8" diameter Haines-Fairbanks fuel pipeline with a pump station located here. The pipeline shut down in 1979. TV came to Tok in 1973 as local residents constructed transmitters on Mt Neuberger. In 1976 the U.S. Coast Guard established the Long Range Aide to Navigation ( LORAN ) station . Four 700' towers 6 miles east of the junction transmit radio navigation signals for air and marine traffic in the Gulf of Alaska. The U.S. Customs moved from Tok to its present location ( Milepost 1222 ) in 1971. Milepost 1324 leads to the Tanacross Indian Village and the Tanacross Airport. The village is located where the Eagle Trail crossed the Tanana River. Sternwheelers once plied the river. The large paved airstrip was constructed during W.W.II to handle aircraft being ferried to Russia. It remains as a base for the summer firefighters and summer stock car / motorcycle races. There are a variety of things to do in Tok thanks to the local businesses and clubs. Sled dog demonstrations, gold panning, an Alaskan theme park, sourdough pancake breakfasts, slide shows, Native dancing, miniature golf, salmon bake, gold nugget jewelry and Bingo is held at the VFW We also have an active Lions organization. For the athletically challenged there are 15 miles of paved bike trails running parallel to the highways, and softball games held most nights at the local field. The Tok Race of Champions Sled Dog Race, one of the oldest in the State, is held each March. Tok, known as "The Dog Capitol of Alaska", is a center of dog breeding, training and mushing. Fourth of July is a big event for residents and visitors to Tok with a parade, floats, contests, games and plenty of good food. Northern Lights are visible August through May of each year.

Wildlife Viewing in the Tok Area

The Tok Area offers fishing opportunities for rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, northern pike, and burbot. Rainbows can be caught at Fourmile, Hidden, Robertson 11, and Jan lakes. Grayling occur in the Tok River Overflow and Little Tok River about 20-25 miles south of Tok along the Tok Cutoff Road. Pike occur in most area lakes connected to the river system. Burbot inhabit the Chisana, Nabesna, and Tanana rivers and are caught by bottom fishing with bait. check with local sporting goods dealers for local fishing guides. Consider flying out with a local air taxi for a true wilderness fishing experience. See the Tok River Burn of 1990 On July 5, 1990, a large lightning- caused wildfire raced to within a breath of the very outskirts of Tok.Thick black spruce forests, the result of decades of government fire suppression, fueled the 1990 blaze. Visitors to Tok can get a first hand look at the burn by driving north on East Fifth near the old truck stop. River road, an unmaintained road that starts about a quarter-mile from the Alaska Highway and runs northeast about 5 miles to the Tanana River, and a fire trail that intersects Red Fox Lane near the end of East Fifth Street offer a nice evening walk through the burned area. The Tok River Fire will protect Tok from any new fires to the east and will develop into top-notch wildlife habitat as it revegetates over the next few decades. Grasses, sedges, liverworts, fireweed, new sprouts of quaking aspen, and willows will begin to carpet the bum during summers of 1991 and 1992. Eventually, spruce seedlings will take root. Within 50 to 100 years the area will return to it's pre- burn condition through the natural process of plant succession. Nearly all of the Eastern Interior of Alaska has been burned within the last 100 years because wildfire is a natural process in the ecology of this region. The burn will attract a variety of woodpeckers and birds of prey at first. At the edges of the bum and later in the bum itself, meadow votes, shrews, and small song birds will be attracted as plant seeds and insects are available. During the later shrub stage in the middle of the burn itself, expect to see sharptailed grouse, moose, red fox, coyotes, and wolves frequenting the area. After several years, ruffed and spruce grouse, snowshoe hares, lynx, marten and black and grizzly bears will again find conditions attractive. Take the time while visiting Tok to learn about how fires shape our landscape and why wildfires are a healthy, necessary function or northern ecosystems. There is an excellent display in the Visitor Center at the Junctions of Alaska Highway and Glenn Highways.