Alaska Nellie's Homestead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Alaska Nellie's Homestead
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 Location in Alaska
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| Nearest city | Lawing, Alaska |
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| Area | 4.3 acres (1.7 ha) |
| Built | 1923 |
| Built by | Billie Lawing |
| NRHP reference No. | 75002159 |
| Added to NRHP | April 3, 1975 |
Alaska Nellie's Homestead was the home of a famous Alaskan pioneer named Nellie Neal Lawing. It is located in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, near Lawing, Alaska. Nellie was known for her love of wildlife and for running a popular lodge.
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Who Was Alaska Nellie?
Nellie Neal Lawing was an amazing woman who moved to Alaska in 1915. She worked at several roadhouses for the Alaska Railroad. These roadhouses were like inns for travelers. In 1923, Nellie settled at the Roosevelt roadhouse on Kenai Lake. This is where she built her own homestead.
Life at the Homestead
Nellie planned to marry Kenneth Holden, but he sadly passed away. Later, his cousin, Billie Lawing, proposed to Nellie, and they got married. In 1924, a post office opened in the area. Nellie became the first postmistress. The post office was named Lawing in her honor.
Nellie was very knowledgeable about wildlife. She was also a trophy hunter. She kept her hunting trophies, including three bears, inside the roadhouse. She was also famous for keeping pet bear cubs outside her home!
A Popular Lodge
Nellie's homestead became a very popular place to stay. Guests loved hearing Nellie's exciting talks about wildlife. Many famous people visited her lodge. These guests included actor Will Rogers and actress Alice Calhoun. Even General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr. stayed there.
After Billie passed away in 1936, Nellie continued to run the lodge. She operated the roadhouse until she died in 1956.
What Happened to the Homestead?
The original roadhouse was destroyed in the 1960s. It was likely damaged by rising water from Kenai Lake. This happened after the big 1964 Alaska earthquake.
In 1975, the homestead was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site. At that time, only the main homestead building and a few smaller buildings were left.
The homestead was used as a tourist shop in the 1970s. Later, it became a bed and breakfast. However, it eventually became empty. In 1998, a group called the Alaska Association for Historic Preservation listed it. They said it was one of the ten most endangered historic places in Alaska.
