“Into the Wild” Bus Might Have a New Home Soon

It was abandoned in 1961, and became a shelter for those using the backcountry to recreate or hunt.

The department received dozens of suggestions for use of the bus that came from individuals, museums and institutions nationwide, with varying plans to preserve, exhibit, monetize or memorialize it, Feige said.

The department decided to consider the university’s proposal, which had several advantages.

It’s just one of three official state repositories, and the only one in the Fairbanks area able to accept and curate state-owned historical items.

The museum also has the staff to restore, curate, and display the bus.

This proposal also allows the Department of Natural Resources to retain ownership of the bus, and decide future uses, including whether to lend it out for display and where.

“I believe that giving Bus 142 a long-term home in Fairbanks at the UA Museum of the North can help preserve and tell the stories of all these people,” Feige said.

“It can honor all of the lives and dreams, as well as the deaths and sorrows associated with the bus, and do so with respect and dignity.”

The department anticipates signing final paperwork within the next few months. 

(Writer: Mark Thiessen) 

Source: https://apnews.com/5d4f072c2e1dd029525a216c83cf48ca