Information About Historic Preservation
Why Historic Preservation?
National Trust for Historic Preservation: Why Old Places Matter
- Old places matter because they provide balance and stability in an ever-changing world, especially when our communities are threatened or displaced.
- Old places matter because they help us remember important and defining moments in our lives.
- Old places matter because they are the landmarks of our identity.
- Old places matter because they can become a venue for understanding difficult history.
- Old places matter because they provide an understanding of history that cannot be experienced in any other way.
- Old places matter because they have the capacity to provide deep spiritual and psychological benefits, which makes our present and future lives better.
- Old places matter because they foster an environment and community of creative people.
- Old places matter because they support a sound, sustainable, and vibrant economy.
More Benefits of Historic Preservation
- Measuring the Economics of Preservation: An Advisory Council on Historic Preservation paper detailing the economic benefits of historic preservation.
- Statewide Studies on the Economic Impacts of Historic Preservation: Links to many statewide reports on the benefits of historic preservation.
- About the National Register: Short video describing the basics of the National Register.
- Preservation Tips and Tools: Collection of articles for people who love historic places and want to save them.
- The Greenest Building Is…One That Is Already Built: A journal article on the sustainability of historic buildings.
Local Places on the National Register of Historic Properties
The Municipality of Anchorage is home to 34 places that have been recognized for their important historic significance and listed in the National Register of Historic Properties! These places include Government Hill Historic District, the 4th Avenue Theater, the Campus Center on the Alaska Pacific University Campus, the Old St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Eklutna, the Roundhouse at Alyeska and many more.
Click through the links below to read each site’s historic nomination narrative and view historic imagery.
Old St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Eklutna
- 4th Avenue Theater (photos)
- AEC Cottage No. 23 (photos)
- AEC Cottage No. 25 (photos)
- Anchorage City Hall (photos)
- Anchorage Depot (photos)
- Anchorage Hotel Annex (photos)
- Anchorage Cemetery (photos)
- Beluga Point*
- Brown’s Point Cottages (photos)
- Campus Center (photos)
- Crow Creek Consolidated Gold Mining Company (photos)
- Eklutna Power Plant (photos)
- Fort Richardson National Cemetery*
- Government Hill Federal Housing District (photos)
- Indian Valley Mine*
- KENI Radio Building (photos)
- Kimball’s (photos)
- Leopold David House (photos)
- Loussac-Sogn Building (photos)
- McKinley Tower Apartments*
- Mike Alex Cabin (photos)
- Mt. Alyeska Roundhouse*
- Nike Site Summit (photos)
- Old Federal Building (photos)
- Old St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church (photos)
- Oscar Anderson House (photos)
- Oscar Gill House (photos)
- Pilgrim 100B Aircraft (photos)
- Pioneer School House (photos)
- Potter Section House (photos)
- Spring Creek Lodge (photos)
- Temnac P-38G Lightning*
- Wendler Building*
- Wireless Station (photos)
To learn more about these and other historic places, visit the National Register of Historic Properties.
* Indicates sites for which the nominations packets are not yet available.
Original Neighborhoods Historic Preservation Plan
#ThisPlaceMatters Alaska
This year is the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act, and Alaska is celebrating by reaching out to find out what historic places in Alaska are important to you. #ThisPlaceMatters Alaska is an initiative of the Alaska Office of History and Archaeology, within the Department of Natural Resources.
Click here to see which historic places in Alaska have been mapped, and to add your own entry.
State Preservation Office
The Alaska Office of History and Archaeology (OHA) and State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) provide programs to encourage the preservation and protection of the archaeological, historical, and architectural resources of Alaska.
Click here to learn more about the OHA and SHPO.
Alaska’s Historic Places
Alaska’s rich history encompasses several eras and cultures, as well as countless fascinating, and sometimes downright surprising, chapters (such as Cold War-related points of interest here in the Municipality). Many of Alaska’s historic sites offer tours, but others are simply points of interest that you can explore on your own. Here are some local places and stories worth checking out!
- In the bustling boomtown of 1915 Anchorage, four distinct neighborhoods arose to meet the growing call for call for housing, land management offices, schools, libraries, and museum facilities. Learn more about these Four Original Neighborhoods.
- Learn more about Cold War history here in the Municipality. Contact the Friends of Nike Site Summit and listen to personal stories of veterans who worked at Alaska Cold War site.
- See old photos and hear stories about the Alaska Railroad.
- Visit Alaska’s Digital Archives to see old photos of people and places in the Municipality.
- Dig deep into the layered history of the 49th state by visiting Alaska.org.
