Established: 1898

Location: 1975 Discovery Dr., Fairbanks, AK 99709

Telephone: 907-479-6673

Website: www.riverboatdiscovery.com

E-mail: reservations@riverboatdiscovery.com

Focus of the services: The Riverboat Discovery provides "A glimpse at Alaska life and history along the rivers," said Johne Binkley, the company's president and chief executive and a former state senator. The company takes passengers on a three-and-a-half hour riverboat tour along the Chena and Tanana Rivers.

The cruise focuses heavily on the Athabscan culture, and includes a stop at a Chena village where guides introduce tourists to various aspects of Native traditions, lifestyles and heritage.

History of the company: Charlie Binkley was the first of four generations of Binkleys to tour Alaska's waterways in sternwheeler riverboats. He started his company as a freight mover during the gold rush.

Charlie's son, Jim Sr., moved his share of the family interest to the Interior and Fairbanks in the 1940s when he went to college at the University of Alaska. The company evolved after World War II, and, in 1950, Jim Sr. started offering tours of the Chena River.

In the early 1990s, Riverboat Discovery expanded to dry land by adding train-operated tours of the El Dorado gold mine.

Today, the fourth generation of Binkleys is at the helm of three sternwheeler riverboats owned and operated by the company. The three boats have capacities of 150 passengers, 400 passengers, and 900 passengers, respectively.

Major accomplishment: The Riverboat Discovery Inc. has been recognized and praised by both passengers and travel companies, said Johne Binkley, including being named "Travel Weekly" Magazine's number one boat tour in North America.

Binkley, however, said the is more proud of the fact that the company has been family run for more than 100 years and that it attracts tourists to Fairbanks.

Binkley also emphasized the importance of indigenous culture to the firm.

Major players: Johne Binkley acts as the president and chief executive of the company, but he says he shares the responsibilities equally with his family. His brothers, Skip Binkley and Jim Binkley Jr., act as the secretary-treasurer and vice president, respectively; wife Judy Binkley is the vice president of retail; and son Ryan Binkley oversees the company operations. Another 10 members of the family are also active participants in the Riverboat Discovery.

-- Regan Foster