Join Us for a Special Afternoon of Alaska State Park History! 🌲📜
On Wednesday, September 10th, 1:00–2:30 PM, Alaska State Parks presents:
The First 25 Years: 1970–1995 with Neil Johannsen & Friends
Neil, the longest-serving Alaska State Parks Director (1983–1995) and first superintendent of Chugach State Park, is flying up from his island home to share rare stories, memories, and artifacts from the early days of Alaska State Parks.
From driving a garbage truck for California State Parks in 1966… to overseeing 12+ years of Alaska State Parks history… to saving a rock from Bligh Reef and a bottle of Exxon Valdez oil—Neil has seen it all. And he’s ready to tell it all, alongside longtime colleagues Pete Panarese and Judy Bittner.
📍 Location: William Egan Room 106, Robert B. Atwood Building, 550 W 7th Ave, Anchorage
đź—“ Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2025
⏰ Time: 1:00–2:30 PM
Alaska State Park Units established during Neil C. Johannsen’s directorship, 1983-95
1. Bettles Bay State Marine Park
2. Chilkat Islands State Marine Park
3. Horseshoe Bay State Marine Park
4. Oliver Inlet State Marine Park
5. Saint James Bay State Marine Park
6. Sawmill Bay State Marine Park
7. Shelter Island State Marine Park
8. Shoup Bay State Marine Park
9. South Ester Island State Marine Park
10. Sullivan Island State Marine Park AS 41.21.304(10) 07/16/1983 2,624
11. Surprise Cove State Marine Park
12. Ziegler Cove State Marine
13. Wickersham State Historic Site
14. Kenai River Special Management Area
15. Shuyak Island State Park
16. Wood-Tikchick State Park (Expanded by 200,000 acres)
17. Potter Section House State Historic Site
18. Eagle River Greenbelt added to Chugach State Park
19. Willow Creek State Recreation Area
20. Crooked Creek State Recreation Site
21. Point Bridget State Park
22. Kachemak Bay State Park expanded by 50,000 acres
23. Earnest Gruening State Historic Park
24. Beecher Pass State Marine
25. Dall Bay State Marine Park
26. Funter Bay State Marine Park
27. Joe Mace Island State Marine Park
28. Security Bay State Marine Park
29. Security Bay State Marine
30. Taku Harbor State Marine Park
31. Thoms Place State Marine Park
32. Big Bear/Baby Bear Bays State Marine Park
33. Boswell Bay State Marine Park
34. Canoe Passage State Marine Park
35. Decision Point State Marine
36. Driftwood Bay State Marine Park
37. Entry Cove State Marine Park
38. Granite Bay State Marine Park
39. Jack Bay State Marine
40. Kayak Island State Marine Park
41. Magoun Islands State Marine
42. Safety Cove State Marine Park
43. Sandspit Point State Marine Park
44. Sunny Cove State Marine Park
45. Thumb Cove State Marine Park
46. Afognak Island State
State Park Units established while Johannsen was Chief of Planning, 1975-1979
47. Independence Mine State Historic Park
48. Wood-Tikchick State Park
Come celebrate our park history, hear the stories, and meet the people who helped shape Alaska’s incredible state park system. This is a one-of-a-kind event you won’t want to miss!
Also check out other Sports events in Anchorage, Trips & Adventurous Activities in Anchorage.