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Con, driven to make a life in the harsh Alaskan landscape, turned to trade and fur buying. His transformation into Santa Claus during Christmas became a beacon of joy for local children. In 1952, the Millers established the Santa Claus House at the North Pole, initially a trading post providing essentials and serving as a community hub. Our visit to the North Pole was during an Alaskan road trip in August, returning from the Dalton Highway and the Arctic Circle.
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No home is complete without a garage, and at Santa's, there's one that offers sleigh-size parking—a highly prized asset these days. The Santa Claus House offers a sweet shop with candies and fudge. Lines are a little longer during the Christmas season but if you visit during the summer you will get a lot of one on one attention. Visitors to the town will be greeted by not just it, but also a 42-foot-tall Fiberglas Santa Claus statue that stands on Richardson Highway. When Nellie and Con Miller arrived in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1949, they didn’t have anything with them except for their two children and $1.40. Media coverage over the years has brought international fame to Santa Claus House.
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Rovaniemi—the administrative and commercial capital of Lapland, Finland's northernmost province—wasn't much of a tourist destination before Santa Claus came to town. Lapland had served as a sort of nebulous home base for Santa Claus in the European tradition ever since 1927, when a Finnish radio host proclaimed to know the secret of Santa’s hometown. He said it was in Korvatunturi, a mountainous region in Lapland shaped like the ears of a rabbit.
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Santa Claus House opened in 1952, but it wasn't immediately Christmas-themed. It was a general store typical of post-World War II Alaska, selling mostly dry goods and servicing people driving on the Richardson Highway or at nearby military bases. The store also had a soda fountain, which became a de facto watering hole for the growing local community. For 20 years, Santa Claus House was even the town's official post office. We stopped in Talkeetna and took a flightseeing tour that actually landed on Mt. Denali.
These delightful letters are dispatched in early December, ensuring they arrive in time to add sparkle to your Christmas celebrations. Each letter is thoughtfully crafted to reflect the individual child’s life, making it a deeply personal and memorable experience. Printed on exclusive stationery only available at Santa Claus House, these letters are a keepsake your child will treasure. What’s more, they’re mailed directly from the North Pole, complete with a genuine address for children to write back to Santa.
Beyond this Christmas wonderland, explore the nearby Chena Hot Springs and Chena Lake Recreation Area. Santa Claus House, a heartwarming symbol of Christmas joy since the 1950s, is a must-visit destination for a truly enchanting Alaskan experience. Con and Nellie Miller, arriving in Fairbanks in 1949 with little more than hope, laid the foundation for what would become an Alaskan icon.
Ever wondered if there’s a place where Christmas joy exists year-round? This enchanting destination is a must-see in Interior Alaska, drawing visitors globally with its festive allure. Located near Fairbanks, it’s a perfect addition to your Alaskan itinerary, offering a unique experience of Christmas magic regardless of the season. The real Santa Claus—the historical figure upon which the legend is based—never lived anywhere near the North Pole. Saint Nicholas of Myra was a fourth-century bishop who lived and died far from the Arctic Circle, in what is now Turkey. Nicholas was also a favorite among sailors, who prayed to him during rough seas.
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In 1972, Alaska rerouted the Richardson Highway, moving it away from the front door of Santa Clause House. By that time the store's purpose had also shifted, from dry goods to Santa-themed tourism. The Millers built a new storefront on the new highway, slowly but surely phasing out their inventory of canned goods in favor of Christmas trinkets. Around 1952, the Millers decided to put down permanent roots and set up a trading post outside Fairbanks, near the Davis homestead in what would later be called the North Pole. One day, a group of children who had seen him dressed as Santa drove by and called out, "Hello Santa Claus, are you building a house?" An idea was born.
A holiday tradition for generations.
Inside the festive McDonald’s in the North Pole with Alaskan Big Mac and candy cane signs... - The Sun
Inside the festive McDonald’s in the North Pole with Alaskan Big Mac and candy cane signs....
Posted: Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
There are over 60 vendors that line the streets with food, drinks, and Alaska-made gifts. North Pole, Alaska is a town with the Christmas spirit all year round. Everywhere you look there are candy cane striped poles and even the street signs are Christmas-oriented. We bring you not just authentic Alaska itineraries and insider tips but also a treasure trove of our own photos and first-hand experiences from the places we've explored and activities we've relished.
The postal tradition lives on—official Letters from Santa are postmarked from the North Pole and stamped with an official Santa seal. And today, the store includes live reindeer, a coffee shop, holiday gift items, the world’s largest Santa statue and, in summer months and over holidays, Santa himself. Originally, Santa Claus House doubled as a post office, with Nellie Miller as postmistress. The store, initially centered on children’s necessities, gradually shifted towards Christmas-themed items. In 1972, the Millers relocated the store to a more prominent highway location, further cementing its status as a festive destination. Santa Claus House in North Pole is more than just a destination; it’s an immersive Christmas wonderland.
It’s renowned for an array of Christmas ornaments, decorations, and unique gifts, transforming it into a veritable Christmas wonderland. There are also cool activities for anyone coming to Fairbanks during winter’s aurora-watching season. Ice art spectators can also find their way through an ice maze or ride down an ice slide. The exhibit stays up throughout December—and plenty of folks even make this a destination on Christmas Day.
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