Anchorage Historical Buildings (Self Guided), Anchorage

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.

The Historic Anchorage Hotel carries a legacy rooted in the city’s early days. Originally constructed in 1916 by C.B. Wark, the hotel began as a modest wood-frame structure but soon took on a new face in 1917 when Frank Reed transformed it into a luxury establishment. As Anchorage expanded in the 1930s, so did the need for more accommodations, leading to the construction of the Anchorage Hotel Annex in 1936, designed in Gothic style by architect E. Ellsworth Sedille. This new addition quickly became one of the city’s tallest buildings, embodying Anchorage’s ambitious growth.

Throughout its heyday, the Historic Anchorage Hotel hosted several notable guests, including President Warren Harding, Interior Secretary Harold L. Ickes, and entertainment icons like Walt Disney. Adventurers Wiley Post and Will Rogers also stayed here, tragically only two days before their fatal plane crash. Adding to the hotel’s artistic heritage, landscape painter Sidney Laurence occasionally resided at the hotel, famously exchanging a painting of Mount McKinley for a year’s rent.

Despite its prominence, the hotel’s fortunes waned in the 1950s, leading to the demolition of the original building in the 1960s, while the annex struggled under different managements, even being renamed the Hotel Ronald Lee. The hotel’s revival began in the late 1980s, thanks to Bob and Carolyn Neumann, who restored its former charm, returning it to its original name. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999, the Historic Anchorage Hotel remains a cherished relic of Anchorage’s storied past, blending history with hospitality for today’s visitors.

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.

The Alaska Engineering Commission Cottage No. 25, located on West Third Avenue in Anchorage, is a two-story wood-frame building designed with a low-pitch gable roof and exposed rafter tails under its wide eaves. Constructed in 1917 by the Alaska Engineering Commission (AEC), the cottage is part of a group of homes built to accommodate the Commission’s employees after Anchorage’s transformation from a tent city to a railroad hub in 1916. Cottage No. 25 initially housed the townsite engineer, later promoted to townsite manager, and became one of the few federal buildings retained beyond 1926, eventually used by the U.S. Army Signal Corps and later by the Army and Coast Guard.

This cottage exemplifies the simple yet durable design of the AEC’s early Anchorage housing, with many original cottages built in clusters along Third Avenue and Christensen Drive. While several AEC cottages were dismantled over time, Anchorage has preserved a handful in the downtown area and the Government Hill neighborhood, some of which have been repurposed as offices or even restaurants.

Cottage No. 25 was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 and is currently owned by the Municipality of Anchorage, remaining a well-preserved artifact of the city’s early development. Together with other iconic structures, like the Leopold David House and Oscar Anderson House, Cottage No. 25 contributes to Anchorage’s historical landscape.

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.

The Leopold David House, located on West Second Avenue in Anchorage, is an enduring symbol of early Anchorage architecture and civic history. Constructed around 1917, this 1½-story bungalow exemplifies the Craftsman style popular during that era, featuring a front-gable roof, dormers, and a wooden frame. Its design includes deep eaves adorned with Craftsman brackets, a gabled porch supported by box columns, and a semihexagonal bay window—all set within a symmetrical yet distinctly bungalow layout.

Leopold David, an immigrant from Germany who would become Anchorage’s first mayor in 1920, commissioned this larger-than-average home after purchasing land during the 1915 Anchorage land auction. Though it remains uncertain if he used a building kit or commissioned custom plans, the home’s size distinguished it from neighboring residences. Only government-commissioned cottages built for high-ranking Alaska Engineering Commission officials approached its scale.

Now painted blue and gray with white trim, the house has undergone a few modifications, including a renovated basement that expanded its footprint to 2,500 square feet. Originally a private residence, the house today serves as a law offices, marking its shift from personal to professional use. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986, it stands as a well-preserved example of Anchorage’s early bungalow architecture.

David’s legacy as Anchorage’s inaugural mayor reflected his deep commitment to his adopted city. Serving three terms, he guided Anchorage through its transition from federal oversight to a locally governed community. His impact on Anchorage’s civic development remains as significant as the house he once called home, preserving the pioneering spirit of one of Anchorage’s most respected early residents.

The Alaska Railroad Depot, also known as the Anchorage Depot, stands as a historic and active transit hub near downtown Anchorage. Serving as the anchor of the Alaska Railroad system, this depot is a gateway for tourists traveling to iconic destinations such as Denali, Seward, and Fairbanks, as well as the scenic Glacier Discovery Routes.

Constructed in 1942 with an original design by architect Joseph L. Skoog, the three-story structure, featuring the Moderne architectural style, was built with concrete and steel to meet the demands of the WWII era. Enlarged in 1948, the depot retains a flat-roofed, minimalist façade with subtle nods to Beaux-Arts classicism through features like a belt course and three-bay pavilion entrance. Inside, the well-lit waiting room showcases original light maple woodwork with Greek key ornamentation, quarry tile flooring, and ceramic tile wainscoting, adding charm to its functional design.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999, the depot is valued for its role in Alaska's transportation history and its durable construction, which sustained only minor damage during the 1964 earthquake. Today, the depot serves as the central office for the Alaska Railroad and leases part of its space to local organizations.