Once the site of a Tanaina Indian village and later in the middle of a gold rush, Talkeetna (named for the "River of Plenty") got a big boost when the Alaska Railroad established a construction camp at the river junction early in the 20th century. Now the town is the base for mountain-climbing expeditions in the Alaska Range and activities on the three rivers. With its casual lifestyle, Talkeetna might be considered the "earth mother" of the Susitna Valley.