| Where is Watson Lake Signpost Forest? | | | | the forest, 2006, it was estimated that over |
| Who started Watson Lake Signpost Forest and | | | | 60,000 signs had been placed. Each year, between |
| why? | | | | 2,500 and 4,000 are added. |
| Let's see if we can answer the above questions. | | | | The forest is located on several acres of land, |
| During our RV trip to Alaska, in the summer of | | | | snaking through the trees. You're probably |
| 2006, we visited the Signpost Forest, Watson | | | | wondering where all the signs come from. Well, |
| Lake, YT, Canada. The town is located at mile | | | | most of the signs come from folks that are |
| marker 635 of the Alaskan Highway. | | | | traveling on the Alaskan Highway. It really is a |
| The Signpost Forest was started in 1942 by a | | | | must stop for RVers. All of the RV caravan tour |
| member of the U. S. Army Engineer, 341, | | | | companies stop to post a sign or signs at the |
| Company "D" which was part of a large | | | | Signpost Forest. As a matter of fact one |
| contingency sent to construct the Alaskan | | | | member of our group posted an old pair of tennis |
| Highway. Bare in mind that in 1942 this area was | | | | shoes, which of course he autographed. There are |
| a vast wilderness. There really wasn't anything for | | | | traffic related signs, left turn signs, license plates |
| the soldiers and engineers to do other than work. | | | | and handcrafted signs, including signs made from |
| Many became homesick. One such individual was | | | | discarded items like pie tins, hubcaps and even |
| Carl K. Lindley. He decided to post a sign showing | | | | moose antlers. |
| the distance to his hometown of Danville, Illinois. | | | | While the predominance of signs are from the |
| So the first sign posted was "Danville, Illinois" | | | | United States, there are signs from other parts |
| 2,835 miles. That started the tradition of adding | | | | of the world. One of the real mysteries is a 6 x |
| one's hometown sign to the forest. | | | | 10' sign from the German autobahn. How in the |
| The 10, 000 sign was placed by folks from Byron, | | | | world did they ever get that sign all the way |
| Ohio on July 20, 1990. In 1992 Carl Lindley and his | | | | from Germany to Watson Lake? |
| wife were invited back to celebrate the 50th | | | | So, when you're packing your RV for your Alaska |
| anniversary of the forest, during which the 18,000 | | | | journey be sure to include a sign that you can |
| sign was placed. When our group of RVers visited | | | | leave at Watson Lake's Signpost Forest. |