Talkeetna is a community of about 800 residents, with a few hundred more folks living in the outlying areas.  It has a history rich in gold mining, hunting, and trapping. Talkeetna's downtown is a National Historic District, with several buildings on the National Registry of Historic Places.  In addition to attracting a growing number of tourists, Talkeetna serves as the staging area for climbers attempting to scale Mt. McKinley and other peaks in the Alaska Range.  At the confluence of 3 rivers (the Talkeetna, the Susitna, and the Chulitna), Talkeetna is also a prime fishing spot and playground in general to outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.  Opportunities abound to view the natural beauty and resident wildlife by air, boat, train or trek.  One of the most breathtaking views of North America's tallest peak, Mt. McKinley (Denali) can be seen from Talkeetna.