Kodiak History Museum facts for kids
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Kodiak History Museum
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Modern view of the building
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 Location in Alaska
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| Location | 101 East Marine Way, Kodiak, Alaska |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1808 |
| Built by | Russian-American Company |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000954 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | June 13, 1962 |
The Kodiak History Museum is a cool place to learn about history in Kodiak, Alaska. Before 2019, it was called the Baranov Museum. This museum is inside a very old building. It's known as the Russian-American Magazin or the Erskine House. This building is also home to the Kodiak Historical Society's office.
The museum building was built around 1810. It is the oldest of only four buildings left that were built by the Russians. They built these when Alaska was a Russian territory. The museum shares stories and items about the history of the Kodiak Archipelago and the Aleutian Islands. It especially focuses on the time when Russians and early Americans lived there. Sarah Harrington is the museum's current director.
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History of the Museum Building
The town we know as Kodiak today was started in 1793. It was first called Pavlovsk. This was the first permanent Russian settlement in North America. It was the main city for the Russian territory until 1808.
How the Building Was Used
The museum building was built in the early 1800s. The Russian-American Company used it as a storage place. They called these storage places "magazins." When Alaska became part of the United States, the Alaska Commercial Company bought the building. They continued to use it for business, just like the Russians did.
In 1911, a man named W. J. Erskine bought the building. He turned it into his private home. He added a new stone foundation and closed in the porch area. Later, in 1948, he sold it to a company that rented it out.
After the 1964 Earthquake
The city of Kodiak was badly damaged by the 1964 Alaska earthquake and a tsunami. After this, a government group bought the building. Eventually, the city of Kodiak took ownership. In 1967, the city leased it to the Kodiak Historical Society. The society has taken care of the building ever since. They use it for their offices and as the museum.
The building was recognized as a special place in 1962. It was named a National Historic Landmark. In 1966, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places.
About the Building's Design
The museum building is a large, rectangular log structure. It now sits on a strong concrete foundation. It is about 2-1/2 stories tall. The building is about 36 feet (11 meters) deep and 72 feet (22 meters) wide. It has a front porch that sticks out and is partly covered with glass.
The outside of the building is covered with horizontal redwood siding. This siding covers older layers that might be from the Russian period. The roof is steeply sloped and has a pointed shape. There is one small window area with its own roof on the front of the building.
Inside the Museum
The inside of the building has been changed a lot. This was done to make space for the historical society and the museum. However, you can still see many of its original parts. The inside was first split into two big rooms. A log wall separated these rooms. This wall is still there, but doorways were cut through it later. The stairs going up to the second floor also seem to be original. The floorboards upstairs look like they were made in the typical Russian style.
See also
- List of the oldest buildings in Alaska
