Captain Cook Monument, Anchorage

The Captain Cook Monument in Anchorage is a bronze statue honoring the British explorer Captain James Cook. Located in Resolution Park in Downtown Anchorage, the life-sized statue commemorates Cook's 1778 exploration of the area as he sought the Northwest Passage. Crafted by Derek Freeborn and installed in 1976, this statue is a replica of the one in Anchorage’s sister city, Whitby, England, donated by British Petroleum to mark the United States Bicentennial.

Captain Cook stands on a wooden deck, gazing out over Cook Inlet—an inlet he charted, though he never set foot in Anchorage itself. Instead, his ship's master, William Bligh, conducted much of the exploration. Though Cook ultimately abandoned the hope of finding a Pacific-Atlantic passage through the inlet, his voyage contributed to the detailed mapping of the region.

The monument's location offers sweeping views of Cook Inlet, Mount Susitna (the Sleeping Lady), and Denali on clear days. Beluga whales are often spotted offshore, particularly at high tide, adding a touch of wildlife to the scenery. The statue has become a historic focal point, though it has not been without controversy. Following the murder of George Floyd, some residents called for the statue's removal due to Cook's role in colonial exploits, leading Anchorage Mayor Ethan Berkowitz to defer its fate to the native village of Eklutna in 2020.

Despite this, the Captain Cook Monument remains a prominent attraction, symbolizing Anchorage’s unique intersection of natural beauty, exploration, and cultural history.