How well do you know Anchorage history? Take this quiz and find out
Histories of Anchorage: This week, for the historic anniversary of the moment Anchorage became a self-governing city, we are testing your local history knowledge.
1920 was the year Anchorage voted to become a self-governing town. Not everyone was happy about it.
Histories of Anchorage: Some of the loudest objections to incorporation came from those with land at the distant edges of town -- which, in 1920, was what is now Gambell Street.
Mud, fires and bootlegging: What daily life looked like in the early years of Anchorage
Histories of Anchorage: An essential aspect of life in early Anchorage not mentioned history books or articles is the mud. Settlers entered into the mud, worked in the mud and lived in the mud.
How a young City of Anchorage took shape in the decades after incorporation in 1920
Histories of Anchorage: Public utility districts and red light districts, fires and feral packs of dogs all played a role as Anchorage developed in its first decades.
In Anchorage’s downtown cemetery, every grave marker has a story to tell
Histories of Anchorage: From teens boys who died — and were buried — alongside each other, to men and women drawn north by gold, here are some of the tales to be discovered at Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery.
The Glenn Highway is named for a war criminal who tortured captives during the Philippine-American War
Expeditions into Southcentral Alaska in 1898-1899 are the reason why the highway was named after Edwin Glenn. But his actions outside of Alaska as an Army officer were considered barbaric in their own time.
Despite the odds, Anchorage used to have 3 drive-in movie theaters in operation at the same time
Histories of Anchorage: Short summers with long days and long winters with short days make this city an unlikely place to invest in drive-in theaters. Yet, during a 15-year window, three of them opened and closed in town.
Anchorage residents go a little nuts when national chains arrive in town. It’s been happening since sliced bread.
Histories of Anchorage: Despite complaints about the threat to local businesses and cultural identity, Anchorage residents will show up in droves for a grand opening.
Many Anchorage schools are named after people. Here’s who those people were.
Today’s lesson: the origins of local school names. Some are named for people who are now all but forgotten.
In the 1990s, Anchorage wasn’t exactly welcoming to raunchier rap acts
Histories of Anchorage: In 1990, a promoter scheduled 2 Live Crew for a performance at the Egan Convention Center, and the city came down hard. The drama continued with Snoop Doggy Dogg several years later.
Lions have lived in Anchorage as business attractions and pets over the years. Here’s how that worked out.
There have been at least four privately owned lions in Anchorage history, and multiple lion-related lawsuits.
A 1944 contest asked the question: ‘What’s wrong with Anchorage?’ This was the winning response.
Histories of Anchorage: “I had no intention of being critical when I wrote it,” winner Louise Birkeland declared. “I love Alaska and I love Anchorage. I just want to see Anchorage grow and develop into a better community so that I can have a better home.”