This photo pair features two iterations of the Eielson Visitor Center located at Mile 66 of the Park Road. The earlier photo features the original visitor center (completed in 1960) with the expansion (completed 1975). This facility was closed in September 2004 to allow for construction of the new visitor center (featured in the later photo) which was completed in 2008. The new building was designed to blend into the landscape, and thus only the roof of the structure is visible from above (just behind the truck parked to the right of the busses). Notice the increase in the amount of vegetation (mostly willows) in the gravel bar in the middle left of the frame. Also notice the degradation of the vegetation in the foreground. This is likely due to increased foot traffic in the area with increased visitation.