Golden Heart Plaza

There are a few places to sit around a large monument. If you go down a set of stairs you get great views of a river.

Nice little park with a fountain and a statue of an unknown first family of settlers that founded Fairbanks. Dotted with benches, a nice park to sit and contemplate the peaceful river that flows through the heart of the city. The fountain is surrounded by numerous plaques including one describing the Alaska pipeline, the route we were to start on the following day.

We were very impressed with the Winter Solstice Festival that Fairbanks put on! It was bitterly cold, but so worth it! And the fireworks show had everyone wide eyed and saying WOW!!

The snow laced monument gives the statue some character. With the snowman pulling up the rear drawing its own appeal.

It is the center of town but it's a little shady There are a few good restaurants and a couple of gift shops but not much else. They really need to clean it up. Unfortunately, there are many homeless and at times it can feel unsafe.

Full of potential, the plaza surrounding the "Unknown First Family' statue seems to be abandoned and ignored by the city. With some updates and cleaning this could be a really impactful, educational space that honors the real founders of the area. Loved the first family statue, but it felt weird to honor the exploitation of minerals from the land in plaques beneath the statue. I'd recommend stopping if already downtown.

Bobby and I ... Great place to walk and see the sights that Fairbanks has to offer.

Great set up and pretty area however there were alot of homeless people hanging out and was a bit sketchy

Pretty plaza located next to the Yukon Quest cabin. There's a lot of historical information on plaques surrounding the plaza. It's located along the river so it's a peaceful place to relax, if you don't mind the homeless wandering around you and yelling at your kid like they did mine.

Golden Heart Plaza is very attractive space along the Chena River waterfront in Downtown Fairbanks. Gayle and I recently stayed at the Springhill Suites across the street and enjoyed making this area a part of our walks. From there, it's easy to wander along the rive to the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center (with the Moose Antler Arch and Lend Lease Statue in-between), admire the Yukon Quest thatched hut or cross one of the 2 bridges to admire the historical Immaculate Conception Church. The Plaza commemorates the silver anniversary of Alaska's statehood in Construction was completed in 1987 and was widely funded throughout the greater Fairbanks community. The clock tower, donated by the Fairbanks Rotary Club in 1990, commemorates this organization's first fifty years of service to Fairbanks and the Interior. The pictured statue is Malcolm Alexander's "Unknown First Family," which in his words is "Portraying the family of all mankind, the family of Fairbanks, and the nuclear family, let this statue symbolize, for families present and future, the pride and dignity of this great land." A time capsule, to be opened January 3, 2059, is buried in the Plaza.

Beautiful scenic area of downtown with a great view of the river. Perfect place to come and get some pictures of the city.