Anchorage Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Anchorage

The Old Anchorage City Hall was home to the administration of the city of Anchorage from its inception in 1936 through 1979. The building was designed by architect E. Ellsworth Sedille in the Beaux-Arts architectural style.

Also known as Historic City Hall, the building is constructed from cast concrete. A range of masonry techniques were used for the round-arch opening and the voussoirs of the first floor. The second floor has a smooth finish with a classical parapet.

Visitors to Anchorage may wish to include The Old Anchorage City Hall on their itinerary so they can see the historic architecture from the outside and take advantage of the tourism information inside. The building is now home to Visit Anchorage, the city's visitor and convention bureau. Thanks to its central location, there are many attractions nearby. Some of these include the Old City Hall Park, the Federal Building and the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts.

The Old Anchorage City Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

The Oscar Anderson House Museum is one of the oldest homes in Anchorage. It was built in 1915 by early resident and prominent business owner, Oscar Anderson. Born in Sweden, Anderson claimed to have been the 18th person to settle in Anchorage. The building is the first wood-framed house built in the city. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Anderson lived in the house until his death in 1974. At that time, his widow, Elizabeth Anderson, donated the house to the city. It was fully restored and open as a museum in 1984. The house allows visitors a unique view of life in Alaska prior to statehood.

Visitors may tour the home from June 1 through September 18. Advanced reservations are required. Those visiting in the winter months may be able to take advantage of the home's special Christmas openings. The house is decorated for Christmas and Swedish treats are served to all guests.

Holy Family Old Cathedral was the mother church of the Archdiocese of Anchorage from 1966 to 2020. The original parish was established in 1915 when Anchorage was founded. The first building was made from cement blocks with a wood frame. It was the first church built in the city.

Construction on the new church began in 1946 after years of fundraising. It was designed by architect Augustine A. Porreca in the Romanesque Revival architectural style. Though services began in this church in 1947, it wasn't completed until 1952.

Pope John Paul II held a papal audience in the Cathedral during his visit to Anchorage in 1981. The event attracted a crowd estimated at about 80,000 people.

The church was given the moniker of Old Cathedral in 2020 after the Archdiocese moved to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. This move came because the size of the church could no longer hold the ever-growing congregation.

Visitors who wish to see the interior of the church may visit up to one hour before public masses on Monday through Friday and 30 minutes before public mass on Saturday and Sunday. All weekday masses take place at noon. Weekend mass occurs at 9 AM on Saturday and on Sunday at 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 12:00 PM and 6:00 PM.

Town Square Municipal Park is a large, downtown park in the center of Anchorage. It is located near the Civic and Convention Center, the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts and many dining and shopping establishments.

Plans for the park were made in 1984 when the Performing Arts Center was built. The idea to have a downtown park as a place to gather and have community events has culminated in an open-air park that has been in continuous construction and upgrades since 1988.

The park includes shade trees, benches, walkways and an ice skating rink that is active in the winter. Each tree in the park is lit at night. The Town Square Municipal Park a good place to visit during the day and a peaceful spot to stop by in the evening. There are regular performances that pop up throughout the year. Visitors can even put on their own shows as an outdoor piano is sometimes made available for public use.

The Whaling Wall Mural in Anchorage, titled "Alaska's Marine Life," is an iconic piece by celebrated artist Robert Wyland. Painted in 1994, this vast mural spans over 400 feet in length and towers 50 feet high on the west wall of the J.C. Penney building in Anchorage's Town Square. It is the 54th installment in Wyland's famous Whaling Wall series, which brings life-size marine creatures to urban settings worldwide. Here, Alaska's rich marine biodiversity comes to life, with awe-inspiring depictions of native species, including bowhead and beluga whales and seals, in a visual homage to the North Pacific's nutrient-rich ecosystems.

Wyland’s work is not merely a celebration of marine life; it’s a poignant reminder of the environmental challenges that threaten these habitats, particularly relevant in Alaska following the devastating 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Through his mural and the Wyland Foundation, he aims to raise awareness of issues like pollution and habitat loss, emphasizing the critical relationship between human actions and ocean health. With its breathtaking scale and conservation message, "Alaska's Marine Life" has become a cherished landmark in Anchorage, inspiring both locals and visitors to consider their role in protecting our planet's precious marine environments.

The Anchorage Museum and Imaginarium Discovery Center in Anchorage stands as a dynamic institution dedicated to exploring the rich tapestry of Alaska's art, history, ethnography, ecology, and science. Opened in 1968, the museum initially operated in a modest 10,000-square-foot building. Today, it spans an impressive 170,000 square feet, housing a vast collection of 25,000 artifacts and 500,000 historical photographs, while hosting over 180,000 visitors annually. The museum's growth has seen the inclusion of the Smithsonian's Arctic Studies Center, which facilitates research, educational programming, and exhibitions that delve into the lives and traditions of northern peoples.

With dedicated galleries for Alaska's history and art, as well as diverse exhibitions from around the world, the museum is a leading cultural center in Anchorage. Its permanent displays include the Alaska History Gallery and the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center, showcasing Alaska Native artifacts on long-term loans. The museum's focus on educating the public is evident in the annual 16-20 rotating exhibitions and myriad programs, lectures, and interactive events aimed at enriching the community's understanding of global and Alaskan culture.

The Imaginarium Discovery Center, part of the Anchorage Museum, brings science to life through hands-on exhibits. Visitors can experience a simulated earthquake, interact with live marine animals in a touch tank, and explore the stars in the planetarium. Its engaging science labs, designed for all ages, encourage experimentation and discovery, providing visitors, especially young patrons, with a Science Passport to document their journey and earn invites to future family workshops. This all-ages space combines technology, interactive installations, and art to deepen understanding of Alaska and the Arctic, making it a memorable, immersive experience for locals and tourists alike.

The 4th Avenue Marketplace is an indoor market with shopping and dining options. The marketplace also contains the Historical Veterans Museum and the Alaska Experience Theatre. Those visitors wanting to get off of their feet while still exploring the region can rent a bicycle at the 4th Avenue Marketplace as well.

Weekends at the 4th Avenue Marketplace offer a local artisan market. Arts and crafts created by local artists are in boutiques throughout the week, but weekends have even more offerings. Shoppers will find native carvings, jewelry, clothing, prints and toys. Some artists provide outdoor demonstrations during the summer months.

Boutiques and restaurants at the 4th Avenue Marketplace are open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 6 PM. They are open on weekends from noon to 6 PM. Special events at the marketplace are advertised through the business's Facebook page. Past events have included area-wide craft fairs, pageants and talent competitions.

The Wendler Building, nestled on D Street in Anchorage holds a special place in the city's historical and architectural narrative. Built in 1915 by A.J. Wendler, this two-story, wood-framed structure served as Anchorage's first general merchandising store, operated by the Larson-Wendler Company. While many buildings have come and gone, the Wendler Building remains Anchorage’s oldest commercial edifice, its turret proudly standing as the only one of its kind in the city.

Initially, the building's design featured a canted entrance below the turret, flanked by a large storefront window on one side and a smaller one on the other. The first floor hosted the grocery store, with Wendler and his family residing on the second floor. Over time, the building adapted to the city's needs and evolving social landscape. In the mid-1930s, it was converted into apartments, prompting modifications to the façade, including the removal of the original store windows and the iconic corner entrance.

In 1948, Wendler's daughter, Myrtle Stalnaker, launched Club 25, an exclusive women’s social club that eventually became a beloved local establishment for all. The building's intricate ornamentation below the second-floor windows—featuring cut-out designs—perhaps even influenced the neon accents on Anchorage's Performing Arts Center.

Originally located at Fourth and I Streets, the Wendler Building narrowly avoided demolition in 1983. Relocated to D Street, it stands today as a gift shop. Adding to its cultural significance, a bronze dog statue marks the building as the starting point of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Alaska’s iconic annual event. Recognized for its historical importance, the Wendler Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, ensuring its place as a cherished piece of Anchorage’s architectural and social heritage.