Russ Vander Lugt, a PhD candidate in University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Arctic and Northern Studies program and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, speaks about Henry Allen and his 1885 expedition at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum, May 16, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

Russ Vander Lugt, a PhD candidate in University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Arctic and Northern Studies program and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, speaks about Henry Allen and his 1885 expedition at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum, May 16, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

The surprising humanity of 19th century 1,500-mile trek through Alaska

1885 expedition only more impressive with age

Henry Allen’s trans-Alaska exploration in 1885 often gets called the Lewis and Clark Expedition of Alaska, but that’s not right, says Russ Vander Lugt, a PhD candidate in University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Arctic and Northern Studies program.

Vander Lugt, who is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, gave a presentation on the Allen’s 1,500-mile journey Thursday at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum, where he is using the archives to further research Allen.

Lt. Henry Tureman Allen, leader of 1885 expedition to explore Copper and Tanana Rivers in Alaska as seen in a photo from Alaska’s Digital Archives. He is wearing boots made from animal hides and fur. (Courtesy Photo | Fred Wildon Fickett papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage)

Lt. Henry Tureman Allen, leader of 1885 expedition to explore Copper and Tanana Rivers in Alaska as seen in a photo from Alaska’s Digital Archives. He is wearing boots made from animal hides and fur. (Courtesy Photo | Fred Wildon Fickett papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage)

He said while there’s definitely parallels between the two exploratory efforts, it’s inaccurate to lump them together because of when and where they happened and the conduct of the parties.

[Crime bill would put more people in prison longer]

“It falls into a different time and place,” Vander Lugt said during his talk. “It’s almost like a bookend to Lewis and Clark.”

Also, while Meriwether Lewis and William Clark schlepped across the Western U.S. with goods and gifts with which to barter, Allen’s trek was a more bare-bones affair. The party often had to beg for food from the indigenous Ahtna people it came across while traveling from the Prince William Sound and along the Copper, Tanana, Koyukuk and Yukon rivers.

Vander Lugt said that hunger helped form a common bond with the Alaska Native people Allen encountered, and a friendly working relation with indigenous people is one of the reasons the expedition was ultimately successful.

A genuine effort by Allen to learn some of the Native language, communicate and avoid trespassing also helped, Vander Lugt said.

“Nowhere did he go where he wasn’t guided,” he said.

Russ Vander Lugt, a PhD candidate in University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Arctic and Northern Studies program and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, speaks about Henry Allen and his 1885 expedition at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum, May 16, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

Russ Vander Lugt, a PhD candidate in University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Arctic and Northern Studies program and a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, speaks about Henry Allen and his 1885 expedition at the Alaska State Library, Archives and Museum, May 16, 2019. (Ben Hohenstatt | Capital City Weekly)

He said among westward expansion in the 19th century definitely features a large number of similar expeditions where indigenous people were mistreated or otherwise marked by regrettable actions, but Allen’s expedition stands out.

“I believe this is one of the things that was done right,” Vander Lugt said.

During the course of his research, Vander Lugt interviewed descendents of people who encountered Allen and company on their trek across Alaska, and the stories that were passed down were positive.

“It’s very remarkable that we have oral histories, and to this day, they’re still saying positive things about Allen,” Vander Lugt said.

While Allen was a compassionate military officer who insisted on feeding German children during occupation of Europe after World War, he was also a man of his time with views out of step with current thinking, Vander Lugt said.

Allen would write down and use Native place names and viewed Ahtna as people, but Vander Lugt said his writings suggest he viewed them as wards of the U.S. in need of charity.

[State budget cuts won’t help Juneau students]

However, he was not a clear-cut assimalist, Vander Lugt said, and instead seemed to espouse the idea that indigenous people should leverage their skills in resource industry.

In this photo from Alaska’s Digital Archives are Private Fred Wildon Fickett, Lt. Henry T. Allen and Sgt. Cady Robertson, members of the Copper and Tanana Rivers Expedition. (Courtesy Photo | Fred Wildon Fickett papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage)

In this photo from Alaska’s Digital Archives are Private Fred Wildon Fickett, Lt. Henry T. Allen and Sgt. Cady Robertson, members of the Copper and Tanana Rivers Expedition. (Courtesy Photo | Fred Wildon Fickett papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage)

“He was kind of a hybrid,” Vander Lugt said.

The sheer scope of Allen’s journey remains impressive even through a modern lens, Vander Lugt said.

Part of his research included flying in a military helicopter along the route that Allen took at about the same time of year.

Vander Lugt played audio during his presentation from colleagues who retraced the steps.

One person said it’s nearly unthinkable that a normal person was able to complete the expedition.

“It’s astounding that they actually made it through,” said another.


• Contact arts and culture reporter Ben Hohenstatt at (907)523-2243 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.


More in News

A male sea otter pup, estimated at 2 weeks old, was rescued near Homer and admitted to the Alaska SeaLife Center rehabilitation program on June 23, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. Photo courtesy of the Alaska SeaLife Center
Seward’s SeaLife Center admits 2 seal pups, 1 orphaned otter

The three pups join the Alaska SeaLife Center’s ‘growing’ patient list

Alaska Seaplane pilot Vance Tilley stands in front of the Piatus PC-12 in Klawock on June 23 during the inaugural trip of the new service between Juneau, Ketchikan and Klawock. (Photos by Gemini Waltz Media/courtesy Alaska Seaplane)
New Juneau-Ketchikan nonstop flight service launches

The flight leaves Juneau at 3:45 p.m., and the trip lasts 1 hour 25 minutes

Danial Roberts, an employee at Viking Lumber Company, looks out at lumber from a forklift in Klawock, Alaska. (Courtesy of Viking Lumber Company)
Threads of the Tongass: The future of pianos and the timber industry

Timber operators say they are in crisis and unique knowledge, products will be lost

Suicide Basin as of 10:01 a.m. on Thursday, July 10, 2025, taken by a U.S. Geological Survey camera at the basin entrance facing northeast, into the basin. (Screenshot from National Weather Service Juneau page)
Glacial lake outburst swells Salmon River near Hyder

The isolation of Salmon River limits the impact of flooding

Kahyl Dybdahl, left, and Bronze Chevis eat an egg sandwich breakfast before school at Dzantik’i Heeni Middle School on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017. (Michael Penn / Juneau Empire file photo)
School board allocates extra state funds

More state funds available, but funding issues and federal uncertainty abound

Max Webster stands with Lemon Creek Correctional Center staff in front of new control tower on Tuesday, July 9, 2025. (Natalie Buttner / Juneau Empire)
A towering accomplishment for new Eagle Scout

Max Webster honored at Firearms Training Center Control Tower ribbon-cutting ceremony

Andy Engstrom (left) uses bitcoin to buy lemonade and cookies from business owner Denali Schijvens (right) on Saturday, July 5, 2025. (Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire)
Alaska’s 1st Bitcoin conference held in Juneau

State leaders discuss integrating Bitcoin in Alaska energy, investment and universities

Most Read