Ketchikan Federal Building facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ketchikan Federal Building
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 Location in Alaska
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| Location | 648 Mission Street, Ketchikan, Alaska |
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| Area | 1.74 acres (0.70 ha) |
| Built | 1937 |
| Built by | J. B. Warrack Construction Company |
| Architect | Garfield, Stanley-Brown, Harris and Robinson |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| NRHP reference No. | 05000897 |
| Added to NRHP | April 28, 2006 |
The Ketchikan Federal Building is a special building in Ketchikan, Alaska. It serves as a courthouse for the United States District Court for the District of Alaska. The building is located at 648 Mission Street.
It was finished in 1938. Later, in 2006, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site. Today, the main part of the building is used by the United States Forest Service. This is where the office for the Tongass National Forest is located. The building also has a courtroom and offices for the United States Customs and Border Protection.
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Why the Ketchikan Federal Building is Important
The idea for the Ketchikan Federal Building started way back in 1924. At that time, the city was building a new school. There wasn't much space left for playgrounds. The old U.S. Courthouse was across the street. It was old and not in good shape. Plus, its jail was very close to the school.
A New Plan for a New Building
The Ketchikan Women's Council came up with a smart idea. The City of Ketchikan agreed to give land for a new federal building. This new spot was in the city's business area. In return, the old courthouse land would become a school playground.
In July 1924, the city council asked the government for money. They wanted enough funds to build a new federal building. It took many years of hard work by local groups. Finally, on March 3, 1937, they broke ground to start building.
Who Designed and Built It?
The building was designed by a group of architects from Cleveland. Their firm was called Garfield, Stanley-Brown, Harris and Robinson. The J.B. Warrack Construction Company won the contract to build it. The cost was about $320,000. This amount did not include the elevator or furniture.
The Ketchikan Federal Building officially opened on March 5, 1938. This was just over a year after construction began. It was much larger than most federal buildings in cities of its size. When it first opened, it held 11 different government offices. The post office used the entire first floor. The courtroom and jail cells were on the fifth floor.
The Building in Movies
In the 1950s, a movie called Cry Vengeance was filmed here. You can see the original look of the first floor lobby in some scenes.
Changes Over the Years
In 1976, the General Services Administration (GSA) took over the building. This happened after the post office moved to a new location. From 1977 to 1978, the GSA completely updated the building. They made it into modern office spaces. More small changes have happened since then.
What's Still Original Inside?
Many parts of the first and fourth floors have been changed. The old jail area on the fifth floor is also different. However, some historical parts are still there. These include window frames, some doors, and the main entrance floor. The courtroom and its lobby, the judge's office, and the clerk's office are also mostly original. The elevator doors and a staircase on the northeast side are also still the same.
Special Murals in the Old Jail Area
In the old jail area, there are four interesting murals. These paintings are directly on the concrete block walls. People think prisoners from the Tlingit and Haida Alaskan Indian tribes painted them in the early 1980s. They might have copied pictures from magazines. These murals are protected by clear panels. You can sometimes view them in a private office.
Changes to the Outside
Most of the outside of the building looks the same. However, a new two-story part was added to the south side. Some windows were removed for a new staircase. The building's original color was white. Today, it is painted pink and beige. These colors are not the original ones.
How the Building Looks
Local newspapers from the time described the Ketchikan Federal Building as "plain and practical." It is a six-story building shaped like the letter "L." It was built using strong concrete.
Modern Design Style
The building was designed by the Cleveland architectural firm. Its simple, box-like shape, flat roofs, and lack of fancy decorations show it is an International Style building. This style became popular in the United States in the mid-1930s. It was a modern way to design buildings. It moved away from older, more decorated styles.
The building also shows a style known as "New Deal Concrete." Many federal buildings built during President Roosevelt's New Deal plan have similar features.
Location and Surroundings
The Federal Building is in downtown Ketchikan. It sits at the corner of Mission and Stedman Streets. The area around it has sidewalks and grassy areas. There are also paved parking lots. A metal flagpole stands on the northwest lawn. This flagpole is one of two original ones.
The main entrance is in the middle of the narrow side of the building. This side faces Mission Street. The main doors have a concrete frame that sticks out a little. Two old-style lights are on the sides of the doors. Above the doors, you can see bronze letters that say "FEDERAL BUILDING KETCHIKAN ALASKA." A special stone, called a cornerstone, is near the east end of the north wall.
Inside the Building
The original inside of the building was also simple and practical. The most important areas were the post office lobbies on the first floor. The courtroom and its lobby on the fifth floor were also very important. After a big renovation in the 1970s, only the fifth-floor courtroom and its lobby still look mostly as they did when the building first opened.
Images for kids
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The building as it appeared in 1938.
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Plaque memorializing federal personnel at the time of construction.
 | Stephanie Wilson |
 | Charles Bolden |
 | Ronald McNair |
 | Frederick D. Gregory |
