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The town of Cantwell is named after Jim Cantwell, a worker on the Alaska Railroad. The town began as a flag stop on the Alaska Railroad. Oley Nicklie, a Native Alaskan, sought work with the railroad after fur prices dropped, he and his two brothers founded the settlement. Prior to the settlement, the only inhabitants of the Cantwell area were nomadic Athabascan Native Alaskans who hunted and fished the area. The original Cantwell Roadhouse, now called Cantwell Lodge, was built in 1935 by John Carlson. Cantwell School started out in the Pentecostal Church parsonage in 1940, and, as all burgeoning towns must, it grew into a one room building, then a two room building, and finally was added on to the new school in the 1950's. The old two room building is still attached and the original outhouse can still be seen behind the Cantwell Lodge.
The next large expansion was seen in 1957 when the Denali Highway opened, linking Cantwell to Paxton and the eastern network of Alaskan Highways. This gravel road is primarily a seasonal road due to heavy snow. The George Parks Highway didn't officially open till 1970, so the Denali Highway was the major connection to civilization for Cantwell, aside from the railroad. However, there were no businesses at the intersection or along the highways until the Parks Highway was in use.
Cantwell is still a major cultural center for the Ahtna group of natives. The Cantwell Native
Council is located in the current community building which, along with native housing, was built in the 1970's.
Also located in the Community Center is Community of Cantwell, Inc., which is the parent
organization for the local EMS, which consists of one ambulance, one fire truck, one tanker truck and both summer and winter rescue equipment. All of which are operated entirely by a volunteer group of residents. They support all of the EMS units north of Cantwell and also work with the units from Trapper Creek and Talkeetna.
Cantwell is known as the southern entrance to Denali National Park. While there isn't a formal
road into the park from the Cantwell area, there are many trails and guiding services to assist in a more wilderness experience.
Cantwell served as a filming location for the 2007 movie Into The Wild.
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