Nome is a far away place with a stark beauty different from the rest of the world. There are no trees in this windswept coastal community, and the Norton Sound of the Bering Sea spreads before it endlessly. Standing sentinel in the snowy hills are abandoned relics of times past, from intriguing military installations to mining equipment. All of these features combined make wintertime Nome reminiscent of Hoth, the ice planet of the Star Wars universe featured in the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back. See if you agree that Nome is the Star Wars town in Alaska.
In the fictional Star Wars universe, Hoth is the sixth planet of a remote system of the same name. Hoth has only a few species, including the huge Wampas and the gray snow-lizards known as Tauntauns.
Wikipedia | Hoth
The former Gold Rush town Nome is on the Seward Peninsula in Western Alaska. In the winter, the Bering Sea freezes and makes the ocean a still, flat carpet that spreads out from the town as far as the eye can see.
Joseph | Flickr
Nome has an ethereal beauty all it’s own with pastel skies and low winter light. The endless sunrises and sunsets in this arctic town are stunning over the frozen ocean.
Ben Townsend | Flickr
When the temps dip to frigid subzero conditions, the air takes on an icy shimmer, heavy with suspended ice crystals.
Ben Townsend | Flickr
In this barren landscape, dwellings and manmade structures stand out against the emptiness. If you want to get to the edge of the world for solitude and contemplation, or to build a secret rebel base, this is the spot.
Joseph | Flickr
This historic gold dredge is just one of the pieces of abandoned equipment from eras past that sit in the snow as time marches on.
Joseph | Flickr
One of the White Alice sites sits on the hillside above the town, another piece of history left to languish on the bare hills.
Chris Lott | Flickr These were part of the United States Air Force telecommunication network built during the Cold War, code name White Alice. There were sites built to link communications in Alaska, 31 in all. Each site contained a large parabolic, tropospheric scatter antenna as well as smaller microwave dishes for point to point links. That definitely sounds like White Alice is straight out of Star Wars!
These giant antenna were constructed in the 1950s and became obsolete by the advent of satellite communication 20 years later. These giants certainly seem like part of the Star Wars rebel communication systems for their secret base on Hoth.
Matthew Gillman | Flickr
Antlers are a common decoration in this part of Alaska, and this furry guy looks like he’s from a time long ago in a galaxy far, far away.
Dan Perez | Flickr
Muskoxen roam wild on the hills near the town. These large, gentle creatures add to the otherworldly feel as they calmingly sweep up and down the hills, their long fur blowing in the wind.
Gregory “Slobirdr” Smith | Flickr
This strange and beautiful place makes for an amazing visit. Head to Nome to check out the closest place to the fictional ice planet Hoth you will find on Earth.
Ben Townsend | Flickr
If you like cold places, check out What Real Life Looks Like In The Coldest Place In The Continental U.S. You may also like The Coldest Place On Planet Earth Is Located Right Here In Alaska.
Wikipedia | Hoth
Joseph | Flickr
Ben Townsend | Flickr
Chris Lott | Flickr
These were part of the United States Air Force telecommunication network built during the Cold War, code name White Alice. There were sites built to link communications in Alaska, 31 in all. Each site contained a large parabolic, tropospheric scatter antenna as well as smaller microwave dishes for point to point links. That definitely sounds like White Alice is straight out of Star Wars!
Matthew Gillman | Flickr
Dan Perez | Flickr
Gregory “Slobirdr” Smith | Flickr
Have you been to Nome, the Star Wars town in Alaska? Do you agree it looks straight out of Star Wars? Tell us about it in the comments below.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
Address: Nome, AK, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Unique Alaska Town That Looks Straight Out Of Star Wars May 03, 2021 Beth Price-Williams What are the most unique towns in Alaska? Alaska just might be the most unique of all of the United States. Some of the most unique towns in Alaska, in fact, you can only reach by air or by sea. If you want to visit Sitka, for example, you’ll have a nine-hour ferry ride from Juneau. However, that ride promises an abundance of gorgeous scenery, leading to a town that offers an eclectic mix of old Russia and modern America. If you like a rain and a lot of it, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Adak. The breathtaking town receives up to 260 days of rain a year. Gustavus, Cordova, and Little Diomede are some of the other most unique towns in Alaska that are well-worth the effort to visit. What is there to do in the town of Nome in Alaska? The town of Nome in Alaska is a must-visit, and you’ll definitely want to stay overnight at the enchanting Aurora Inn. In fact, once you check in, you may never want to check out, especially after gazing out over the Bering Sea. Choose between a cozy standard room or a more luxurious suite, and settle in for a relaxing stay. A stay in Nome also means a visit to Pingo Bakery and Seafood House. As one of the top restaurants in Nome, the eatery serves a selection of scrumptious baked goods and tasty lunches. However, make sure you go with a hearty appetite, so you can savor every sweet bite. What are the coolest places in Alaska? If you’re on the hunt for the coolest places in Alaska, you’ll find a ton of ‘em – from fun and original restaurants to one-of-a-kind daytrips. The Hammer Museum in Haines, which you can easily find by looking for the building-size hammer on the front lawn, is just one of those places you have to see to appreciate. Alaska’s also dotted with spellbinding ice caves; does it get any cooler than that? For perhaps the coolest place in Alaska, visit The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, which connects Whittier to Bear Valley. It’s North America’s longest single-lane highway tunnel, and it spans more than 2.5 miles.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Unique Alaska Town That Looks Straight Out Of Star Wars
May 03, 2021
Beth Price-Williams
What are the most unique towns in Alaska? Alaska just might be the most unique of all of the United States. Some of the most unique towns in Alaska, in fact, you can only reach by air or by sea. If you want to visit Sitka, for example, you’ll have a nine-hour ferry ride from Juneau. However, that ride promises an abundance of gorgeous scenery, leading to a town that offers an eclectic mix of old Russia and modern America. If you like a rain and a lot of it, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Adak. The breathtaking town receives up to 260 days of rain a year. Gustavus, Cordova, and Little Diomede are some of the other most unique towns in Alaska that are well-worth the effort to visit. What is there to do in the town of Nome in Alaska? The town of Nome in Alaska is a must-visit, and you’ll definitely want to stay overnight at the enchanting Aurora Inn. In fact, once you check in, you may never want to check out, especially after gazing out over the Bering Sea. Choose between a cozy standard room or a more luxurious suite, and settle in for a relaxing stay. A stay in Nome also means a visit to Pingo Bakery and Seafood House. As one of the top restaurants in Nome, the eatery serves a selection of scrumptious baked goods and tasty lunches. However, make sure you go with a hearty appetite, so you can savor every sweet bite. What are the coolest places in Alaska? If you’re on the hunt for the coolest places in Alaska, you’ll find a ton of ‘em – from fun and original restaurants to one-of-a-kind daytrips. The Hammer Museum in Haines, which you can easily find by looking for the building-size hammer on the front lawn, is just one of those places you have to see to appreciate. Alaska’s also dotted with spellbinding ice caves; does it get any cooler than that? For perhaps the coolest place in Alaska, visit The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, which connects Whittier to Bear Valley. It’s North America’s longest single-lane highway tunnel, and it spans more than 2.5 miles.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Alaska just might be the most unique of all of the United States. Some of the most unique towns in Alaska, in fact, you can only reach by air or by sea. If you want to visit Sitka, for example, you’ll have a nine-hour ferry ride from Juneau. However, that ride promises an abundance of gorgeous scenery, leading to a town that offers an eclectic mix of old Russia and modern America. If you like a rain and a lot of it, you can’t go wrong with a visit to Adak. The breathtaking town receives up to 260 days of rain a year. Gustavus, Cordova, and Little Diomede are some of the other most unique towns in Alaska that are well-worth the effort to visit.
What is there to do in the town of Nome in Alaska?
The town of Nome in Alaska is a must-visit, and you’ll definitely want to stay overnight at the enchanting Aurora Inn. In fact, once you check in, you may never want to check out, especially after gazing out over the Bering Sea. Choose between a cozy standard room or a more luxurious suite, and settle in for a relaxing stay. A stay in Nome also means a visit to Pingo Bakery and Seafood House. As one of the top restaurants in Nome, the eatery serves a selection of scrumptious baked goods and tasty lunches. However, make sure you go with a hearty appetite, so you can savor every sweet bite.
What are the coolest places in Alaska?
If you’re on the hunt for the coolest places in Alaska, you’ll find a ton of ‘em – from fun and original restaurants to one-of-a-kind daytrips. The Hammer Museum in Haines, which you can easily find by looking for the building-size hammer on the front lawn, is just one of those places you have to see to appreciate. Alaska’s also dotted with spellbinding ice caves; does it get any cooler than that? For perhaps the coolest place in Alaska, visit The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel, which connects Whittier to Bear Valley. It’s North America’s longest single-lane highway tunnel, and it spans more than 2.5 miles.
