In 1867, the most northern point in the United States suddenly jumped from the 49th parallel to Point Barrow with the purchase of the Alaska Territory. And almost immediately upon its purchase, Alaska became of great interest to its new owner. Known as ‘The Last Frontier,’ Alaska has captured the imagination of many for its remoteness, its unexplored wonder, its scenic beauty and its resources. Gold was discovered in the Klondike area in 1896, and oil was found to be plentiful in 1917.
Oil had long been known to the Eskimos who have inhabited the north slope area of Alaska for centuries. The crude form seeped freely from the ground near Cape Simpson, just east of Point Barrow. President Warren G. Harding established the Naval Petroleum Reserve Number 4 (NPR4) by executive order in 1923, reserving some 35,000 square miles for petroleum extraction.
The US Navy engaged the US Geological Survey to perform geologic studies of the area between 1923 and 1926, mapping the extensive oil reserves in the area. However, the plentiful supply of crude oil could not offset the extreme remoteness of the area. Ice makes access by sea almost impossible for 9-10 months out of each year and the permafrost tundra surrounding Barrow made road access equally impractical. The Navy abandoned all interest in northern Alaska up to the outbreak of World War II in the early 1940’s.
War increased the value of oil to the US government, sparking renewed interest in northern Alaska for its untapped potential. A camp was setup between Point Barrow and the town of Barrow, known as the Navy Camp, using Quonset huts as housing for personnel. A makeshift emergency airfield was established using Marsten mat until a more permanent airport could be built.
In 1947, the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory (NARL) was established in Barrow to further research into arctic weather, flora, fauna and the ice. The laboratory slowly enveloped the Navy Camp as it grew over the years.
Navy Camp was described as being about 5 miles outside of the town of Barrow. Access to and from town was via largely unimproved beach, with only a few improved areas of sand that had been stabilized for travel. One improved area was adjacent to Middle Salt Lagoon, which drains into the Beaufort Sea through an outflow in the beach. To allow crossing this small waterway, the Navy built a two span timber bridge across the outflow that is still standing today.
The State of Alaska inventories this bridge as “The Navy Bridge,” however the sign attached to the bridge gives it the name “Top of the World Bridge.” Even with its fancy name, the design is unremarkable. Four sawn lumber girder lines support the timber deck, with two girder lines centered under each wheel line. The deck is sawn lumber laid flatwise across the girders. A flimsy timber rail is attached to the deck and curb.
Each pier is founded on timber pile bents, probably driven into the sand. The lumber used for the bridge is not creosoted, as would be typical for a bridge of this vintage in more temperate climates. Instead, the cold climate is primarily responsible for its excellent preservation. The embankments at each end have been wrapped with Marsten mat from the old airfield, probably to help contain the sand and keep it from spilling around the timber piers.
In 1981, the laboratory was discontinued and the old Navy Camp site was transferred to the North Slope Borough in 1996. Iḷisaġvik College was established on the site and is now the northernmost accredited community college in the United States. Stevenson street now runs from Barrow (renamed Utqiagvik in 2016) out to Point Barrow and connects the NARL area with Utqiagvik and Browerville.
To create Stevenson street, timber culverts were installed at the Middle Salt Lagoon outflow and the road built over top. While the Navy Bridge is still accessible, it is largely unused, having been made redundant by the adjacent culverts. Today, the bridge remains as a curiosity and the undisputed northernmost bridge in the United States.
For a complete history of the Naval Arctic Research Laboratory, check out this book.
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