The Harding Car, also known as the Denali Car, was a passenger railroad car named after President Warren G. Harding. Harding rode in this car when he came to Alaska in 1923 to drive the Golden Spike to formally complete the Alaska Railroad. Harding’s presidency was filled with suspicions of corruption and scandals. Not only did Harding have a difficult presidency politically, but it was common knowledge that he had mistresses and fathered a child outside of his marriage. Harding felt that a trip North might improve his public image. His trip was donned “The Voyage of Understanding.” Harding died just a couple weeks after he left Alaska. The cause of his death was listed as a heart attack. However, the President’s wife refused to allow an autopsy to be performed, and the true cause of death remains a mystery. Suggested causes of death include poisoning by his wife, poisoning by another individual for political reasons, and food poisoning from tainted shellfish he may have eaten while in Alaska.
The Harding Car continued to provide passenger service until 1945. In 1959 it was donated to the city of Fairbanks. In 1965, it was moved to its final resting place in Fairbank's Pioneer Park. alaska.org/detail/pioneer-park
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harding_Railroad_Car

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Location: Fairbanks, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Alaska, United States

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Harding Railroad Car (1905) 🚂🚃 Pioneer Park, Fairbanks, AK

1. Pioneer Park loop from Fairbanks

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