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Palmer, home to 16,00 people, is 42 miles northeast of Anchorage, and is the seat of the 23,000-acre Matanuska-Susitna Borough.  The Mat-Su Valley is famous for its giant vegetables, which are able to flourish under the nearly endless summer sun.  It is also the home of the annual Alaska State Fair, which is held in late August. Colony Days, held the third weekend of June, is another major Palmer event, including a parade and street dance -- offering a good glimpse of rural Alaskan life. 

The Matanuska Valley was first settled during the Great Depression by volunteer farmers from the Midwest who were brought to Alaska by the U.S. Government. When the Matanuska Colonists came to Palmer, they lived in a tent city. Palmer is now known for its high-quality dairy products, salad greens, potatoes, rhubarb and giant cabbages. 

The Glenn Highway, along which it is located, follows alongside the Matanuska River as it flows between the Talkeetna Mountains to the north and the Chugach range to the south. 

Check back at this location for exhibit additions, as well as for continuing coverage of alums' careers in and out of baseball.  If you have an anecdote to add, or a picture to share, please feel free to do so at the Blogger below, or email to todd@alaskan-legacies.com.

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