---

During the Second World War an emergency road building project was launched to connect Alaska to the rest of North America. The road, optimistically known as the Alaska Highway, even though it was unpaved, eventually ran 1500 miles from Dawson Creek, on the prairies in northeast British Columbia, to Fairbanks, Alaska.

Watson Lake was the site of a Canadian military airfield, and became a key base for road construction. As the story goes, a young American soldier detailed to put up a signpost with distances east and west along the highway, whimsically added a sign to his home town of Danville, Illinois. This was soon joined by signs for New York, Tokyo, then a flood of other hometowns.

The tradition continues, with the active encouragement of the town of Watson Lake. Posts are provided and tourists are encouraged to nail up a sign from their hometown. At last count there were more than 30,000. The signpost "forest" is a town park. Adjacent is a visitor information center and museum about the Alaska Highway.

---

Next: Kluane Lake