Golden Heart Plaza sits on the south bank of the Chena River in the center of downtown Fairbanks. The centerpiece is the Unknown First Family statue — a bronze sculpture of a Native Alaskan family gazing out over the river, erected in 1986 to honor the city's indigenous heritage and the early settlers who built it.
The plaza is a pleasant place to sit in summer, with flower beds, benches, and river views. It serves as the city's gathering point for festivals, concerts, and community events. The Fairbanks Antler Arch, a gateway made from dozens of caribou and moose antlers, stands nearby — an unapologetically Alaskan piece of public art. In winter, the plaza hosts the start of the Yukon Quest sled dog race, one of the toughest endurance races on earth.