ABOUT US
History
Nestled on the west bank of the Solomon River, just one mile north of Norton Sound and 34 miles east of Nome, the Village of Solomon (Anuutaq) is a place of ancestral memory and cultural connection. With a climate shaped by both continental and maritime influences, we experience short, wet summers and cold, windy winters that have long guided the seasonal rhythms of our Inupiaq way of life.
Originally settled by the Fish River Tribe, Anuutaq has been a center of seasonal migration since time immemorial. Our people traversed from Cape Nome, White Mountain, Council, Golovin, building seasonal sod homes in spring, summer, and fall, and followed the migration of animals inland during winter to Mary’s Igloo and the Fish River Flats. This cyclical way of life reflected a deep harmony with the environment and the animals that sustained us. Our ancestors had a vibrant economy of trade, language, natural healing, rules of order and strong familial bonds that are carried on with our people today.
The arrival of colonizers and the gold rush of 1899–1900 transformed Solomon into a bustling miners’ camp, complete with saloons, a post office, and a railroad terminus. But with these changes came disruption. The construction of the BIA school in 1940 marked a turning point, halting traditional seasonal migration. Stopping culture as our curriculum and the natural world as our classroom. This new era forced assimilation through boarding schools, stole our language, dance, and migratory lifestyle. When the school closed in 1956, families were forced to relocate to Nome, Anchorage, or beyond further fracturing community ties.
Despite these challenges, the Village of Solomon remains strong. Federally recognized under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1993, the Village of Solomon leads efforts to uplift tribal citizens through programs that honor culture, protect the environment, and respond to the needs of a changing world. Though many members live in Nome, across Alaska, and in the lower 48, the annual youth and elders camp brings everyone together to celebrate Inupiaq traditions, share stories, and reconnect with the land and sea.
The Village of Solomon tribal membership and the Solomon Native Corporation shareholders, with support from Kawerak, Inc., completed their Local Economic Development Plan (LEDP) in 2010. This plan built upon the original LEDP written in 1998. An updated version was completed in 2016 to serve as a guide through 2020.
Through the LEDP, the Solomon Traditional Council identified 11 village priorities to guide community development. These priorities are revisited annually for the next five years, ensuring they remain responsive to the needs of tribal members. At each annual meeting, the Council surveys the membership to determine whether new priorities should be added or existing ones elevated in importance.
The tribe and the Solomon Native Corporation continue to collaborate on updating the LEDP every five years, making it a living document that reflects both long-term goals and immediate community needs. The LEDP serves as a roadmap for progress, helping to align tribal governance, resources, and initiatives with the voices of the people.
We take great pride in this process, ensuring that tribal members feel heard, respected, and served through their elected leaders. The LEDP is more than a plan—it is a commitment to honoring community priorities and guiding the future of the Village of Solomon.
Solomon Roadhouse History
The building is known as "The Old Store" or "The Solomon Roadhouse" or simply "Curran's". The building was actually salvaged from the abandoned boom town known as Dickson by a man named Billy Rowe. Rowe used it as his horse barn, he used his horses to haul mining equipment, he moved all those dredges with the horse team from town. He was known to keep as many as 26 horses in the old barn. According to Ray Pederson, they used 40 horses to move the Roadhouse from Dickson to Solomon.
It was the late 1930's when Pete Curran, Sr. purchased Billy Rowe's horse barn.
After Curran bought the house, he had quite a bit of refurbishing to do before he was going to be able to transform the horse barn into a roadhouse. When Billy Rowe had it, it was just a one story building with an open entry to dump the hay. Curran hired Ernie Berg and Pete Curran, Jr. to build the second floor, then he sold groceries and rented rooms. He also rented rooms to military during World War II. He sold all groceries and clothes, food, shoe packs, fuel, coal. He was known to barter with people, he had to because people didn't have money. Curran also bought gold from local miners. His business was entirely run by family. Curran passed away in 1957 and the store was shut down the following year. His son Pete Curran, Jr. continued to operate the roadhouse until him and his family packed up and moved to Nome in 1958.
The Solomon Roadhouse used to be a checkpoint on the Iditarod Trail from the first race in 1973-1976. The checkpoint was then moved 13 miles west to Safety Roadhouse. It was added to the National Historical Registrar in 1980.
Listen up.
VOS staff have been recording some historical research in a Podcast. You can find the podcast on Spotify or podbean. Check it out! There are several episodes from some great resources!