Thomas, George C., Memorial Library
Building in Fairbanks, Alaska. Added to the National Register in 1972, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
The George C. Thomas Memorial Library, also known as the North Star Borough Library, is a historic former library building at 901 1st Avenue in Fairbanks, Alaska. Built in 1909 with funding from philanthropist George C. Thomas, this log building served Fairbanks as its public library until 1977, when the Noel Wien Public Library was opened. This building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978 as the site of a key conference in 1915 between Alaska Native leaders and federal government representatives, at which the Native leaders pressed a number of issues, including the long-running matter of native land claims, which would not be resolved until the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Building |
| Address | 901 1st Ave., Fairbanks, AK |
| Borough or census area | Fairbanks North Star |
| Listed | Feb 23, 1972 |
| Listed for | Social history |
| Level of significance | National |
| Also known as | North Star Boro Library |
| Reference number | 72001542 |
| Type of place | library, library building |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 building |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | 901 1st Ave., Fairbanks, AK |
| Coordinates | 64.8496° N, 147.7311° W · Directions ↗ |
| Also in Fairbanks | 33 listed places in Fairbanks → |
| Nearest national park unit | Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve · 145 miles · on Park Atlas |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 2 records ↗
Map
Nearby in Fairbanks North Star
Guidebooks to historic places and travel in Alaska
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Thomas, George C., Memorial Library listed on the National Register?
Feb 23, 1972. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
Can I visit Thomas, George C., Memorial Library?
Yes. Thomas, George C., Memorial Library is recorded as open to the public.
Source: Wikidata
Where is Thomas, George C., Memorial Library?
901 1st Ave., Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star, Alaska. The nearest national park unit is Yukon - Charley Rivers National Preserve, 145 miles away.
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Thomas, George C., Memorial Library?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Thomas, George C., Memorial Library?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Is there cell service at Thomas, George C., Memorial Library?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE and AT&T 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Is there a wildfire near Thomas, George C., Memorial Library right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-10-17, nearest Freeman Road Rx, 11 miles away.
Source: Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 72001542. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.