Point Barrow

Point Barrow or Nuvuk, is a headland at the northernmost point of Alaska and of the United States, on the Arctic Ocean,

Related Topics:
Headland - Alaska - United States - Arctic Ocean

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Point Barrow is situated 15 km (9 miles) northeast of Barrow, Alaska, at {{coor dm|71|23|N|156|30|W|}}. It was discovered for Europeans in 1825 by Frederick William Beechey and named for Sir John Barrow, a statesman and geographer in the British Admiralty.

Related Topics:
Barrow, Alaska - Frederick William Beechey - John Barrow

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Navigation around the Point is ice-free for only two or three months a year.

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It has served as jump-off point for many Arctic expeditions as well as headquarters for search parties looking for lost explorers.

Related Topics:
Arctic expeditions - Search parties - Explorers

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In 1926 - 1928 it was the base for Detroit Arctic Expedition and Wilkins - Carl Ben Eielsons flight to Spitsbergen on April 15, 1928.

Related Topics:
Detroit Arctic Expedition - Wilkins - Carl Ben Eielson - Spitsbergen

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Originally Barrow had an entirely native population and the history before 1900 is little known. In 1928 it consisted of 3 clusters of huts stretching along the shore. The white man's Barrow served as a trading center for the isolated Arctic coast residents. It had a store, a Presbyterian mission, a Federal Hospital and a school.

Related Topics:
Presbyterian mission - Federal Hospital

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The population today is about 4,500 and there are two small airports in the area, Browervill and Wiley Post - Will Rogers airport.

Related Topics:
Browervill - Wiley Post - Will Rogers airport

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In an attempt to fly around the world, Wiley Post and Will Rogers crashed at Barrow on August 15, 1935. A memorial is erected at the site.

Related Topics:
Wiley Post - Will Rogers - Memorial

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From Point Barrow at {{coor dm|71|02|N|156|47|W|}} between 1965 to 1972 some sounding rockets of the type "Nike Cajun" and "Nike Apache" were launched.

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The page is under work and more to come

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