In 1915, Talkeetna was chosen as the site for the Alaska Engineering Commission, who would build the Alaska Railroad, and the community peaked near 1,000. World War I and completion of the railroad in 1919 dramatically decreased the population. Several of its old log buildings are historical landmarks, and Talkeetna was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in April 1993. During 1998, the community petitioned the Local Boundary Commission for incorporation as a home rule city. Talkeetna is a non-Native community that is popular for its recreational fishing, hunting, boating, flightseeing, skiing and dog mushing.
Local businesses provides services to Mount McKinley climbers.
As the take-off point for fishing and flightseeing trips, and a staging area for Mount McKinley climbing expeditions, Talkeetna provides air taxi, helicopter, outfitters, and related services. 14 residents hold commercial fishing permits. Talkeetna has a State-owned 3,500' paved runway and is accessible by a road off the George Parks Highway. The taxiway was repaved during 1997. There are three additional airstrips in the vicinity, including one owned by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.