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DYK: Black soldiers built the Alaska Highway

by The 100 Companies
DYK: Black soldiers built the Alaska Highway

The Alaska Highway is paved with more than cement — it’s paved with an important chapter of often overlooked Black history.

More than 3,000 Black soldiers helped build the 1,500-mile stretch across the great North. When construction occurred, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was still segregated, meaning these engineers were faced with racism and grueling working conditions to build what past military documents have called a “wonder of the modern world.”

The road opened up for civilian use in 1948, but it was not until its 75th anniversary in 2017 that the Alaska legislature recognized these soldiers for their efforts.

Caitlin Weaver, The Alaska 100

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The Alaska 100