Kenny Lake School's Award Winning Documentary Films

WINNER: 2012 Alaska Society for Technology in Education Documentary!

Iron Rails Introduction and Construction

This 15-minute video contains the Introduction and sections from the Construction chapter of the 90-minute documentary.

Iron Rails:
The Story of the Copper River
and Northwestern Railway

    The Copper River and Northwestern Railway was a remarkable engineering achievement on a scale that rivaled the Alaska Highway and the Alaska Pipeline. Join us as we take you on a wild ride that explores how two men -- Mike Heney and Erastus Hawkins --  dreamed of building a railroad through some of the wildest country on earth. Hawkins, Heney, and 6,000 of their workers battled against quicksand, glaciers, and an unruly Copper River while the skeptics shook their heads.
    This documentary begins with the discovery of the rich copper deposits in the Wrangell Mountains by Clarence Warner and Tarantula Jack Smith, and takes you through recent history when dreams of building a highway from Chitina to Cordova fell apart.
    Shot on location in Kennecott and along the mighty Copper River, this documentary will inspire and awe you. For two years, 13 students researched the railway, developed a script, and filmed the majestic country of the Copper River from the mountains surrounding Kennecott, all the way to Cordova. Click to see Rafting Video.
    This documentary completes the trilogy of the three primary shaping forces on Copper Basin history. GREAT NEWS: KTOO and KACN-TV have asked to run our documentaries on statewide television. Stay tuned for more information about this exciting development.
    The Alaska Humanities Forum writer David Holthouse also wrote a blog about Kenny Lake's film projects.
    Also, check out the same post on the Public Television and Radio website.

WINNER: 2008 Spirit of Youth Award

Bonanza!
The Story of Kennecott

This 90-minute documentary traces the history of the Kennecott Copper Mine from the early Ahtna days through its impact on Alaska Statehood in 1959. Learn about the gritty men and women who helped shape Kennecott's history, and the challenges they faced to survive in a wild land.

WINNER: 2011 Artifact for Alaskans, Alaska Learning Network. Cash prize $10,000.

Stampede!
The Story of the 1898 Valdez Gold Rush

In 1898 Valdez was the scene of one of the strangest mass movements in history. More than 3,000 would-be miners crossed the unruly Valdez and Klutina glaciers in hope of reaching a promiseland full of gold. Few found the riches they sought; yet many discovered a way of life few had anticipated. This story captures the pain, disappointment and exhilaration of their adventures in wild Alaska.

Gold, Copper and Rails