They say you often leave a piece of yourself in all the places you visit. Travelers passing through the tiny town of Watson Lake along the Alaska Highway in Yukon, Canada, seem to take this adage literally. What they leave behind is a sign (well, signpost actually) of their roots, their hometowns. Over the years, this collection of signposts called the Watson Lake Sign Post Forest has become one of the top travel destinations in Canada.
© panaramio.com
It all started back in 1942 during the construction of the Alaska Highway. Back then, the town of Watson Lake didn’t even exist! In its place was a Military Air Base and Airport used by the American Army that was building the highway. American soldier Carl Lindley serving with the 341st Army of Engineers, was a part of the team working on the Alaska Highway. Injured on the construction site, he was taken to the Army Aid Station to recuperate when a commanding officer asked him to repair and erect a directional signpost. Those days, it was a common practice for the US Army of Engineers to install directional signposts at their camps. Homesick and lonely, he added a personal touch to the task by adding a signpost of his hometown, Danville, Illinois.
© yukoninfo.com
Little did he know that this act of his would become trend that would be carried on for decades. Inspired by Lindley, several soldiers started putting up signposts of their hometowns. Soon, it became a tradition. After the army left, travelers on Alaska Highway too, started putting up signposts of their native places.
© watsonlake.ca
Since then, Lindley’s single signpost has grown into a forest of signposts spread across a couple of acres. New panels to put up the signposts are being added even today! Over the years, people not only put up their signposts but have also become creative with it. There are signatures on dinner plates, and messages and license plates from across the globe, including a 6×10 feet sign from a German autobahn! It’s astonishing how much effort and thought people put behind each signpost. The Watson Lake Sign Post Forest now has over 72,000 signs and more are added every month! Every year, an average of 1,100 signposts are added to the forest!
©yukoninfo.com
Sadly, Lindley’s original signpost no longer exists. In September 1992, the Watson Lake Sign Post Forest celebrated its 50th anniversary. To commemorate this special event, Carl Lindley and his wife Elinor were invited as guests of honor. A replica of the original directional signpost was installed and Lindley, just like he did 50 years ago, replaced the signpost of his hometown Danville where he lived until his death in 2002. This replica of the Danville signpost is kept in the Visitor Center along with photos of Lindley.
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Tags: Canada Yukon
