Alaska Engineering Commission Cottage No. 23, Anchorage

The Alaska Engineering Commission Cottage No. 23, also known as DeLong Cottage, is a historic house on Christensen Drive in Anchorage. Built in 1916, this 1½-story wood-frame structure is a testament to Anchorage’s early days, designed and constructed by the Alaska Engineering Commission (AEC) as part of a federal effort to establish the Alaska Railroad. Among the remaining AEC cottages, Cottage No. 23 stands out as the least-altered and best-preserved example, showcasing a side-gable roof, a large shed dormer addition, and a charming porch extending across the front. Originally, the porch’s rafters were exposed, a characteristic that added rustic detail to its simple design.

The house was first occupied by Walter DeLong, who served as the AEC’s general storekeeper. After Anchorage was chosen as the Alaska Railroad headquarters, the AEC quickly erected nineteen cottages to house its employees, especially higher-ranking officials, marking a shift from Anchorage’s initial tent city layout of 1915 to more permanent structures. These cottages, including DeLong Cottage, were located near the early commercial district along Christensen Drive and Third Avenue and represent some of the first true homes in Anchorage’s original townsite.

Cottage No. 23 has a distinctive square ground plan, with its front measuring 35 feet 3 inches and side elevations varying between 27 and 31 feet. Though most original AEC cottages have been lost, several remain, with eight in the Government Hill neighborhood and eight preserved in downtown Anchorage, maintaining the area’s historical residential charm.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, the Alaska Engineering Commission Cottages, along with landmarks like the Leopold David House and Oscar Anderson House, offer a window into Anchorage’s foundational period, preserving the spirit of a once-young frontier town now grown.