Friends of S.S. Nenana Inc.

The Friends of SS Nenana Inc. (FSSN) was formed in 2018 and is dedicated to renovating and preserving the Sternwheeler Nenana, located in Pioneer Park in Fairbanks, Alaska. The North Star Community Foundation (NSCF) is our fiscal sponsor. NSCF provides administrative services and oversight to support our organization; we work under NSCF’s 501(c)(3) non-profit status. This partnership with NSCF is a critical step towards our goal to restore the S.S. Nenana and our fundraising efforts.

Years of neglect and deferred maintenance have brought the SS Nenana – a beautiful piece of Alaskan history – to deplorable conditions. In April 2018, the Fairbanks Northstar Borough blocked all entrances to the sternwheeler and closed off this beloved historic landmark to the public due to safety concerns.

Dedicated community members have since organized into the non-profit Friends of SS Nenana. Thanks to early efforts, the SS Nenana was added to the Alaska Association for Historic Preservation’s Ten Most Endangered Historic Properties from 2018 through 2024.

Without substantial fundraising, advocacy, and a close partnership agreement with the borough, we will lose the SS Nenana, a historic sternwheeler that is the last of its kind. Our mission is to enable the renovation and preservation of the SS Nenana so that it may be enjoyed for countless generations.