b'In Fairbanks, in the In the late 1940s, airplanes became more prevalent, allow-FOGHORN FOCUS ing supplies to be brought into the region year-round and interior, its really aboutthe necessity for the steamboats faded. Rather than move elsewhere, Jim stayed in Fairbanks where he met his wife, the people and who we are.Mary, when she came to the region in 1944 from Oregon to study at the university. The couple married in 1947 and We dont necessarily havehad their first child in 1948. these grand landscapes,Chuck West was a pioneer of Alaskan tours who, in 1950, planned to bring travelers to the state for arctic excursions but weve got this uniqueand needed something for guests to do in Fairbanks. He had heard about Jim Binkley and reached out asking if hed be culture here where peoplewilling to put together a riverboat tour for guests while they spent a day in town. Jim and Mary decided to give it a try really support each and bought a small, 25-passenger cabin cruiser which was a former missionary boat, and Riverboat Discovery was born. other. Thats our goal to Jims grandson Wade, current president of Riverboat Dis-covery, guessed that in their entire first summer operating get across to our guests.they probably carried as many passengers as the current vessel carries in a single morning. It was a small venture. The couple kept their day jobs, and it was years before they decided it was a worthwhile venture to commit to Charles passed away only a few years after Jim was born incompletely. When asked the purpose for a bank loan they 1920 in Wrangell, Alaska. After his passing, Charless wifesought, the couple said tourism. To which the banker re-moved with her young son to California, and Jim grew upplied that tourism was a hobby not a business because at far from the land where his father had built and operatedthat time there was little tourism in the state. boats. Though Jim never had the chance to know his father well, he heard stories of him and dreamed of returning toThe couple enjoyed introducing their home state to visitors Alaska. Like his dad before him, he ventured north whenand eventually developed a tour program focused on the he was 18, returning to Wrangell to work with his fathersnativeAlaskancultureandthepeoplewhoshapedthe former partner for a summer. In 1940, he moved to Fair- state. The tours became a re-creation of Jims life during banks where Riverboat Discovery is located today.the 1940s, telling the story of the region as people who had lived the lifestyle, not simply reciting lines from history At the time, the Yukon River was the last place in the statebooks.Guestsexperiencedafour-to-five-hourtourthat wheresteamboatsstilloperated.Jimbeganworkingongave them a greater understanding of the people of the in-steamboats as a deckhand in the summer, and in winter,terior of Alaska and why they choose to live there. he worked at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in the maintenance department at their power plant. Slowly, heMuch tourism in Alaska focuses on the grandeur of the en-ingrained himself into the transportation fields in the re- vironment: the glaciers, the mountains, the wildlife. But, gion. During the following decade, he fell in love with theWade pointed out, in Fairbanks, in the interior, its really interior of Alaska, Fairbanks, and being on the river, andabout the people and who we are. We dont necessarily have he formed an appreciation and respect for the culture ofthese grand landscapes, but weve got this unique culture native Alaskans who inhabited the area. It was native el- here where people really support each other. Thats our ders, as well as other captains, that taught him as he learnedgoal to get across to our guests. the trade and how to navigate the rivers and tricky sections of the waterways. Jim formed a close bond with the people,Jim Binkley spent the winters of 1954 and 1955 building deepening his admiration for their lifestyle and culture.the companys first sternwheeler, going back to the classic FOGHORN 24'