Photographs of African American Soldiers Working on Alcan Highway, 1942

The Alaska or Alcan Highway was constructed during World War II, in response to the attack on Pearl Harbor, starting in March 1942 and finishing in eight months. It connected the United States to Alaska across Canada starting at Dawson Creek, B.C.. and ending at Delta Junction, Alaska. It was built by 11,000 soldiers in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. About 3,500 of those soldiers who built the Alaska Highway were African American troops, who mainly worked from Alaska southward to Canada. The African Americans soldiers were organized in three newly formed Negro Regiments, the 93rd Engineer General Service Regiment, 95th Engineer General Service Regiment, and the 97th Engineer General Service Regiment.