Van Gilder Hotel
Encyclopedia
The Van Gilder Hotel is a historic building located in Seward
, Alaska
, United States
.
The building was originally constructed as an office by E.L. Van Gilder of Kellogg, Idaho
, who decided to invest in the Alaska Territory
. Van Gilder purchased the property adjacent to the Seward bank for $4,000 in February 1916. He obtained supplies in Idaho, and then returned to Seward via the steamer Evans with his wife and daughter. Construction for the two-story structure with an excavated basement began in May 1916. In addition to offices, the building would have meeting halls for local organizations. During construction, Van Gilder decided to add a third story to the building. Extra construction costs and a poor economy forced Van Gilder to sell the building shortly after it was completed. The new building was purchased by Charles Brown, a partner in the Brown & Hawkins Store
in Seward.
The Van Gilders planned to return to the states
and travelled to Ketchikan, Alaska
via boat. While in the town waiting for the boat to leave, Van Gilder and his wife Sarah were both offered jobs. They stayed for a year and earned money to invest in business in St. Helens, Oregon
.
Upon completion, the first and second floors contained 27 rooms, while the basement had seven. The third floor held Masonic
and Odd Fellows
lodge rooms, as well as meeting space for the Christian Scientists and the Seward Women's Club. Tenants on the lower floor included the law firm Morford & Finnigan, a doctor, and the Alaska Importing Company. The basement held offices for the Gateway Newspaper. The newspaper was the second in Alaska to join the Associated Press
and had been called the second-largest paper in Alaska in 1915.
In early 1921 the building was converted to apartments. Joe Badger, who came to Alaska from Chelsea, Massachusetts
during the gold rush
in Nome
, served as manager. Badger took over ownership in September, and had the building converted again, this time to serve as a hotel. Early guests to the hotel included salesman, railroad, and government officials including Austin E. Lathrop
, a prominent Alaskan industrialist. In 1923 when Warren G. Harding
became the first U.S. president to visit the territory, many of the executives stayed in the Van Gilder.
In 1924, Seward and the Van Gilder were a stop for the Army Air Service
team that made the first aerial circumnavigation
of the globe. The four pilots and their crew landed their Douglas World Cruiser
aircraft—the Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, and Seattle—in Resurrection Bay
. The event was the first time many of the 1,000 residents saw an airplane.
Ownership passed hands several more times, and the hotel was known as "Hotel Renwald" during parts of the 1950s and 1960s. For a time the building was leased to the state and served as a dormitory for the Seward Skills Center. When the state's lease expired in 1978 the building was refurbished and has served as a hotel since. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980.
Seward, Alaska
Seward is a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough in the U.S. state of Alaska. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 3,016....
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The building was originally constructed as an office by E.L. Van Gilder of Kellogg, Idaho
Kellogg, Idaho
Kellogg is a city in the Silver Valley of Shoshone County, Idaho, United States, in the Idaho Panhandle region. The city lies near the Coeur d'Alene National Forest and about east-southeast of Coeur d'Alene along Interstate 90...
, who decided to invest in the Alaska Territory
Alaska Territory
The Territory of Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska...
. Van Gilder purchased the property adjacent to the Seward bank for $4,000 in February 1916. He obtained supplies in Idaho, and then returned to Seward via the steamer Evans with his wife and daughter. Construction for the two-story structure with an excavated basement began in May 1916. In addition to offices, the building would have meeting halls for local organizations. During construction, Van Gilder decided to add a third story to the building. Extra construction costs and a poor economy forced Van Gilder to sell the building shortly after it was completed. The new building was purchased by Charles Brown, a partner in the Brown & Hawkins Store
Brown & Hawkins Store
Brown & Hawkins is a general store in Seward, Alaska. It was founded in 1904 to serve the town and those constructing of the Alaska Central Railroad, and is the oldest continuously operating business in Seward....
in Seward.
The Van Gilders planned to return to the states
Contiguous United States
The contiguous United States are the 48 U.S. states on the continent of North America that are south of Canada and north of Mexico, plus the District of Columbia....
and travelled to Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan, Alaska
Ketchikan is a city in Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Alaska, United States, the southeasternmost sizable city in that state. With an estimated population of 7,368 in 2010 within the city limits, it is the fifth most populous city in the state....
via boat. While in the town waiting for the boat to leave, Van Gilder and his wife Sarah were both offered jobs. They stayed for a year and earned money to invest in business in St. Helens, Oregon
St. Helens, Oregon
St. Helens is the county seat of Columbia County, Oregon. It was founded by Captain H. M. Knighton, a native of New England, in 1845 as "Plymouth". The name was changed to St. Helens in the latter part of 1850 for its view of Mount St. Helens some away in Washington. The population was 10,019 at...
.
Upon completion, the first and second floors contained 27 rooms, while the basement had seven. The third floor held Masonic
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
and Odd Fellows
Odd Fellows
Odd Fellows is a name broadly referring to any of a large number of friendly societies, fraternal and service organizations and/or Lodges.-Societies using the name "Odd Fellows" or variations:...
lodge rooms, as well as meeting space for the Christian Scientists and the Seward Women's Club. Tenants on the lower floor included the law firm Morford & Finnigan, a doctor, and the Alaska Importing Company. The basement held offices for the Gateway Newspaper. The newspaper was the second in Alaska to join the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
and had been called the second-largest paper in Alaska in 1915.
In early 1921 the building was converted to apartments. Joe Badger, who came to Alaska from Chelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea, Massachusetts
Chelsea is a city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States directly across the Mystic River from the city of Boston. It is the smallest city in Massachusetts in land area, and the 26th most densely populated incorporated place in the country.-History:...
during the gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
in Nome
Nome, Alaska
Nome is a city in the Nome Census Area in the Unorganized Borough of the U.S. state of Alaska, located on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. According to the 2010 Census, the city population was 3,598. Nome was incorporated on April 9, 1901, and was once the...
, served as manager. Badger took over ownership in September, and had the building converted again, this time to serve as a hotel. Early guests to the hotel included salesman, railroad, and government officials including Austin E. Lathrop
Austin E. Lathrop
Austin Eugene "Cap" Lathrop was an industrialist and outspoken opponent of Alaska statehood. He has been called "Alaska's first home-grown millionaire."-Early life:...
, a prominent Alaskan industrialist. In 1923 when Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
became the first U.S. president to visit the territory, many of the executives stayed in the Van Gilder.
In 1924, Seward and the Van Gilder were a stop for the Army Air Service
United States Army Air Service
The Air Service, United States Army was a forerunner of the United States Air Force during and after World War I. It was established as an independent but temporary wartime branch of the War Department by two executive orders of President Woodrow Wilson: on May 24, 1918, replacing the Aviation...
team that made the first aerial circumnavigation
First aerial circumnavigation
The first aerial circumnavigation of the world was conducted in 1924 by a team of aviators of the United States Army Air Service, the precursor of the United States Air Force...
of the globe. The four pilots and their crew landed their Douglas World Cruiser
Douglas World Cruiser
-References:NotesBibliography* Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume I. London: Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-87021-428-4.* Swanborough, F.G. and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam, 1963....
aircraft—the Boston, Chicago, New Orleans, and Seattle—in Resurrection Bay
Resurrection Bay
Resurrection Bay is a bay on the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, United States. Its main settlement is Seward, located at the head of the bay. It received its name from Alexandr Baranov, who was forced to retreat into the bay during a bad storm in the Gulf of Alaska...
. The event was the first time many of the 1,000 residents saw an airplane.
Ownership passed hands several more times, and the hotel was known as "Hotel Renwald" during parts of the 1950s and 1960s. For a time the building was leased to the state and served as a dormitory for the Seward Skills Center. When the state's lease expired in 1978 the building was refurbished and has served as a hotel since. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1980.