Eagle was once a seat of government and commerce for the Interior. An Army post, Ft. Egbert, operated here until 1911, and territorial judge and noted Alaska historian James Wickersham had his headquarters in Eagle until Fairbanks began to grow from its gold strike. The population peaked at 1,700 in 1898. Today there are fewer than 200 residents. Although the majority of the population is gone, the town still retains its frontier and gold-rush character. John McPhee's providing a fascinating account of life in Eagle during the 1970s in his renowned Alaska travelogue Coming into the Country.
A flood devastated much of Eagle in 2009, but most historic structures were left undamaged. The local historical society has information about this town so influenced by the Yukon River, which in the days before cars and trucks was also a vital mode of transportation.
