National Register of Historic Places listings in Alaska facts for kids
The National Register of Historic Places is like a special list of important places in the United States. These places could be buildings, sites, or even objects that tell us about American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering, or culture. When a place is added to this list, it means it's recognized as being very important to our country's past.
In Alaska, there are about 400 places on this list! These historic sites are spread out across almost all of Alaska's different areas, called boroughs and census areas. Only one area, the Kusilvak Census Area, doesn't have any places on the list yet.
What Are Historic Places in Alaska?
Alaska is a huge state with a rich history. The places on the National Register of Historic Places in Alaska show us many different parts of this history. They include old buildings, important archaeological sites, and places where big events happened.
For example, you might find:
- Old trading posts from when Alaska was first explored.
- Buildings from the Gold Rush era, when many people came looking for gold.
- Sites important to Alaska Native cultures, showing how people lived for thousands of years.
- Places connected to World War II, especially in the Aleutian Islands.
These places help us understand how Alaska grew and changed over time. They also help protect these special spots so future generations can learn from them too.
How Many Historic Places Are There?
The number of historic places on the National Register can change. New places are added, and sometimes a place might be removed. As of a recent count, there are over 400 listings in Alaska.
Here's a look at how many historic places are in each major area of Alaska. Alaska is divided into boroughs and census areas, which are like counties in other states.
| Borough or Census Area |
Number of Sites |
|---|---|
| Aleutians East | 4 |
| Aleutians West | 15 |
| Anchorage | 34 |
| Bethel | 7 |
| Bristol Bay | 2 |
| Denali | 16 |
| Dillingham | 3 |
| Fairbanks North Star | 32 |
| Haines | 6 |
| Hoonah–Angoon | 19 |
| Juneau | 23 |
| Kenai Peninsula | 34 |
| Ketchikan Gateway | 19 |
| Kodiak Island | 27 |
| Kusilvak | 0 |
| Lake and Peninsula | 20 |
| Matanuska-Susitna | 27 |
| Nome | 21 |
| North Slope | 18 |
| Northwest Arctic | 2 |
| Petersburg | 5 |
| Prince of Wales–Hyder | 5 |
| Sitka | 21 |
| Skagway | 3 |
| Southeast Fairbanks | 12 |
| Valdez–Cordova | 28 |
| Wrangell | 4 |
| Yakutat | 2 |
| Yukon–Koyukuk | 17 |
| TOTAL | 425 |
Images for kids
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The Fourth Avenue Theatre in Anchorage is a historic movie theater.
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The Church of the Holy Ascension in Unalaska is a beautiful and historic Russian Orthodox church.
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The Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall in Sitka is an important place for Alaska Native culture and history.
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A totem pole at Sitka National Historical Park, showing the rich history of Alaska Native art and culture.
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Miners climbing the Chilkoot Trail and Dyea Site during the Gold Rush. This trail was a major route for those seeking gold.
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The Leffingwell Camp Site is a historic Arctic exploration camp.
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