Episodes
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Pioneering History of Anchorage, Alaska
First, Hans and Gerry Kirschner tried farming their Spenard property on McRae road… but they were not successful.Then, in 1951, they opened the Garden of Eatin’ and the rest is Anchorage history.It wasn’t much to look at. It was just an old Quonset Hut. But the food they served quickly became the...
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The History of Downtown Anchorage, Alaska
The Old Federal Building was Completed in 1941You saw this historic building every time you went to see a movie at the 4th Avenue Theatre or the Empress Theatre in downtown Anchorage.Located right across the street from the 4th Avenue Theater, the old Federal Building sits on the site originally...
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The Sears Mall in Anchorage
What’s a Mall?When Mike of the Anchorage Memories Club was 15 years old, his family made a trip from Anchorage to San Antonio, Texas to visit relatives. One day, Mike’s aunt said, “how would y'all (that’s Texan for “you all”) like to go to the mall?”Almost immediately, a puzzled Mike asked…
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Anchorage, Alaska's World Famous, Pioneering, Fur Rendezvous Winter Carnival
Hello, Mike and Mary here. Thank you for letting us into your inbox. If you are a new subscriber, welcome!Every issue of the Anchorage Memories Club is a treasure chest of memories that will bring back your long forgotten memories.For access to the Alaska Library of stories, e-books and audio...
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Remarkable Pioneering Alaska Aviator, Russel Merrill
In the photo above is Russel Hyde MerrillOur story begins in Anchorage in 1923.Because of a thick forest on the south side of Anchorage, Alaska, there was a concern that if a fire started in the woods, the new town would be destroyed.With that in mind, Arthur W. Shonbeck organized the entire town...
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Alaska's Kennecott Copper Mines, One of the Greatest Ever.
It all began in the summer of 1900.“Tarantula” Jack Smith and Clarence Warner were prospecting along the east edge of the Kennicott Glacier. They thought the large green patches on the mountain in front of them were grass. But it was too high up the mountain for grass.So the two decided to climb...
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Bettles, Alaska and a Pioneering Man from Montana
In the photo above is the old Bettles Trading Post on the Koyukuk riverDriven by gold fever, you’re constantly looking for the next big strike.The Klondike gave up a lot of gold, but quickly became played out. So many stampeders were looking for another strike to cool their fever. They found…
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See the Beautiful Site Summit Star, a Surprise Gift to Anchorage, Alaska
Alaska’s mountains are tall, commanding, and majestic.But mount Gordon Lyon in the Chugach mountains, overlooking Alaska’s largest city, has become special to the citizens of Anchorage.Illuminated during those long winter nights, the “Site Summit Star” was a gift to Anchorage from the soldiers at...
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Meet the Shrewd, Ruthless Man who Founded Fairbanks, Alaska
Meet Elbridge Truman “E.T.” Barnette, (1863–1933)The man who founded Fairbanks.He was a riverboat captain, a banker, and a swindler.Gold FeverWhen the steamship Portland arrived at the West Coast with its one ton of gold from the Alaska gold strike, like many others, E.T. Barnett came down with a...
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The Fascinating Story of the Matanuska Coal Fields
In the photo above is the Evan Jones Coal Mine at the top of a 6 percent grade up from Sutton on the Matanuska River.But the story of coal in Alaska doesn’t start with the Evan Jones mine.The subject of the oil painting above is Captain Nathaniel Portlock.In 1786, British trader, Nathaniel…
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This is the Remarkable Z.J. Loussac
From 1954 to 1985, Anchorage kids and adults enjoyed spending time in the downtown Loussac Library at 5th and F streets. The picture above is from 1955.So who was this Loussac fellow?His full name was Zadrich Joshua Loussac, also known as Zachary or Zachariah or even “Zach”. He was born to Jewish...
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Did You Watch These Popular Anchorage, Alaska Kid's TV Shows?
Can you name the Anchorage kid’s TV shows in the picture above?Remember how much fun it was to get a glass of milk, some cookies, and to take a seat in front of the family TV to watch your favorite Anchorage local kid’s TV show?In this edition of the Alaska VIP Club, we’re remembering a few of…
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Popular Anchorage, Alaska Restaurant Memories that will Make You Hungry
What places come to mind when you remember your favorite restaurants in Anchorage, Alaska?Here are just a few to get you started.* The White Spot* The original A&W Drive-In* La Cabana* A wonderful steak at Club Paris* Anchorage's Tastee Freez* Peggy's Airport Café* Benny's Food TruckRemember…
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A Fascinating Look at How they Named Anchorage, Alaska Streets
Pictured above is the Muldoon homestead, built in the winter of 1940 - 1941To get to his Homestead, He needed a RoadMuldoon Road in Anchorage, is named after Arnold L Muldoon who actually built the road from the Glenn Highway to his homestead.His original road was a “corduroy road”, which was…
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A Powerful Explosion Created Alaska's Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes
In the photo above is an explorer’s 1916 camp in the Valley of Ten Thousand SmokesFor five days in 1912, the Alaska Peninsula experienced violent earthquakes.Then the Mount Katmai volcano erupted in southern Alaska, 265 miles southwest of Anchorage.The explosion of the eruption was so strong that...
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A Fascinating Treasure Chest of Coke Show Radio Memories
On Christmas Eve, 1959, a small booth sitting on the roof of the Bun Drive-In, a burger place in Anchorage, Alaska, became home to a new program on KENI radio, called The Coke Show.And it became a huge hit.Long before cell phones, Anchorage teens who were listening to the Coke Show, picked up…
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How Portage, Alaska Became a Ghost Town
The tiny coastal town of Portage, was located about 47 miles southeast of Anchorage, Alaska, on the Seward Highway. It used to sit on the shore of Cook Inlet. More about that later in this edition.The town was an early transportation hub connecting the coastal areas with the interior of…
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This is Sydney Laurence, Alaska's Amazing Denali Artist
His love for the mountain, known as Denali, moved him to create wonderful paintings.Mountains treat Anchorage, Alaska to the glories of summer with a splash of fireweed, a reddish flower that graces many mountains in the Great Land.But as winter approaches, “Termination Dust”, otherwise known as...
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The Fascinating Story of Alaska's Own, Matanuska Maid Dairy
Remember the name and the picture on the milk carton of the young lady on ice skates with the fur-trimmed parka? That was as much a part of your life in Anchorage as Gilman’s bread or going to see a movie at the 4th Avenue Theatre.Most of us had a carton of Matanuska Maid milk on the table at...
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One Daring Gold Rush Drove the Skagway, Alaska Invasion
While the Klondike gold fields were in Canada, along the Yukon River, the cheapest entrance was through Skagway, Alaska, or Dyea which was located across the Lynn Canal.It’s estimated that 100,000 prospectors, known as “stampeders” packed the docks headed for Skagway and Dyea on their way to the...
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Anchorage Tent City Memories
In the spring of 1915, over 2,000 prospective workers and merchants assembled at the mouth of Ship Creek.And more were arriving every day.Shore Access was DifficultPictured above, unloading a bargeSteam Ships anchored in Cook Inlet sent out small launches that brought passengers to shore on Ship...
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The Illiamna Lake Monster
Scotland has the Loch Ness monster, also known as “Nessie”.But did you know that Alaska has the Illiamna Lake Monster, also known as “Illie”?Alaska Has How Many Lakes?Alaska has over 3 million unnamed natural lakes, and about 3,197 officially named lakes.Iliamna LakeThe largest lake in Alaska is...
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Anchorage Spa Swimming Pool Memories
What Are Your Memories of the Spa?Here are just a few from a post about the Spa on Anchorage Memories.comEric remembers:“Learned to swim there. Bussed over from Clark Junior High. How did we have the time to swim before we had to get back to class?”Barbara had this to say:“For two weeks, first...
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Anchorage Pioneer Nellie Brown
As the story goes, when the Anchorage Times Newspaper reporters got off work in the 1960s, they would head over to Club 25. Once there, they would buy Nellie Brown a beer (her favorite was Olympia) and she would tell stories about the very early days of Anchorage.They Met in Cordova, AlaskaJohn...
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Alaska's Tongass National Forest Facts
Passengers on Cruise Ships enjoy part of the Tongass National Forest’s 11,000 miles of Southeastern Alaska coastline. 80 percent of Alaska’s southeast panhandle.The national forest designation was made in 1907 by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.The Tongass National Forest is home to 32...
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Anchorage Club 25 Memories
For residents and visitors alike, the building in the picture above is a familiar site in Anchorage’s downtown area of 4th Avenue.But our story doesn’t begin here.This edition of the Anchorage Memories VIP Club Podcast is really three stories in one.It’s the story of the Wendler family, what…
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The Kimura Family, Anchorage Pioneers
Our story begins, one afternoon, long ago.Somewhere between the newsreel and the main movie, I sat there, a young boy in the 4th Avenue Theater, when an ad filled the screen.The first thing I noticed was that it was for a local Anchorage business. I had heard the name, “Snow White Laundry and...
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Close Encounters of the Moose Kind
They look peaceful enough, but a moose is still a wild animal and they can be dangerous.Here are some fun stories of moose encounters in and around Anchorage, Alaska.Cindy sent us this one“Adam and the Moose”“It’s hard to believe that anyone who has lived in Anchorage does not have a moose...
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History of Seldovia, Alaska
In 1908, Seldovia’s “main street” was built along the beach and was only accessible at low tide.You’ll find this Alaska town of about 255 people, located on the shores of Kachemak Bay on the Kenai Peninsula, about 246 miles from Anchorage.However, you can only get there by boat or airplane. There...
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Anchorage Pioneer Joe Spenard
In 1916, during his first year in Anchorage, the Anchorage Daily Times wrote the following:“Joe Spenard caused considerable excitement Saturday afternoon when he attempted to drive his yellow car through the doors of Robarts Pool Hall. He made the attempt for a box of cigars promised him by Jack...
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How Homer, Alaska got its Name
Alaska has long been a magnet for colorful characters. In its early days, Anchorage had Joe Spenard and Russian Jack. During the Klondike Gold Rush, Skagway had “Soapy” Smith. And you have probably heard of others.Many years ago, the Inuit Eskimo and Tanaina Indians settled about 125 miles...
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Anchorage Pioneer “Mac” McGee
He had no money, and no job prospects on the horizon.So, in 1929, during the Great Depression, he was able to sneak on board the SS Aleutian steamship, headed for Seward, Alaska.Once in Seward, he made his way to Anchorage, where he found work, driving a delivery truck for Standard Oil.Later, he...
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The Anchorage Film Caper
Author Mike Dougherty tells you this story.The Anchorage Film Caper takes you on a spooky but humor-filled adventure through the basement of the deserted and badly damaged McKinley building following the 1964 Alaska earthquake.When you were a teenager, did you ever do anything that you thought...
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Anchorage Movie Theatre Memories
During the long, cold dark of winter (not shown above), Anchorage movie theaters offered us a relief from the grip of Cabin Fever.For two hours or more, you could enjoy a movie or two, if it was a double feature.In the 1940s, 1950s, and into the early 1960s, you might also see a cartoon, a serial...
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Anchorage Statehood Celebrations
When Alaska finally made the transition from territory of the United States to becoming the 49th state – it was cause indeed for happy celebrations in Anchorage.“I remember being in the first grade at Denali Elementary. One day, we had to fill out a form. One of the questions asked, “what state…
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Camping Adventure on Wendigo Island
Do you like (or would you like) to go camping in Alaska?When Mike of the Anchorage Memories VIP Club was 16 and his brother Tom was 14, the two headed across a lake to a small, wooded island near Cordova, Alaska to camp for the night.But things don’t always go as plannedMike and Tom’s overactive...