The Alaskan Hotel & Bar

Built by three immigrants during Alaska’s mining boom, the Alaskan Hotel emerged as a beacon of luxury in the last American frontier. Its ornate Victorian architecture, featuring intricate woodwork and elaborate furnishings, offered a stark contrast to the rugged Alaskan wilderness. The hotel quickly became a haven for wealthy miners, traveling salesmen, and ladies of the night, all seeking their fortunes in the northern territory.

The most famous supernatural resident is the ghost of Alice, a young bride who met a tragic end in the early 1900s. According to local legend, Alice’s husband left her at the hotel while he sought his fortune in the gold fields. After months of waiting and running out of money, she reportedly turned to prostitution to survive. When her husband unexpectedly returned and discovered her new profession, he flew into a rage and took her life. Today, guests and staff report encountering Alice’s spirit in various parts of the hotel, particularly in Room 219, where she allegedly met her tragic end.

The hotel’s second floor harbors the most intense paranormal activity. Guests regularly report:

• The sound of high heels clicking on hardwood floors
• Doors opening and closing on their own
• The sensation of being watched while sleeping
• Mysterious knocking on doors when no one is there
• Objects moving without explanation
• The sound of a woman humming Victorian-era songs

The hotel’s bar, a historic establishment that operated continuously through Prohibition as a “secret” speakeasy, is particularly active with supernatural energy. Bartenders report glasses sliding across the bar without being touched, mysterious figures reflected in mirrors, and the sounds of raucous parties emanating from empty rooms above. The phantom smell of cigar smoke often wafts through the air, even though smoking has long been prohibited in the building.

Another prominent spirit is that of a gold miner, often seen in period clothing, who appears in the hotel’s narrow corridors late at night. Witnesses describe him as appearing solid enough to be mistaken for a living person until he vanishes through walls or around corners. Some speculate he may be Alice’s husband, eternally searching for her through the hotel’s halls.

The third floor, which once housed the hotel’s luxury suites, has its own supernatural residents. Staff and guests have reported encounters with:

• A ghostly lady in a Victorian dress who appears in doorways
• The spirit of a young girl who runs laughing through the halls
• A mysterious man in a top hat who appears at the end of corridors
• Unexplained cold spots that move through rooms
• The sound of furniture being moved in vacant rooms

During Prohibition, the hotel maintained secret tunnels for smuggling liquor, which now serve as conduits for paranormal activity. Maintenance workers report strange phenomena in these passages, including:

• Disembodied voices engaged in whispered conversations
• The sound of footsteps following them through the tunnels
• Tools disappearing and reappearing in different locations
• Mysterious lights floating in the darkness
• The sensation of being touched or pushed by unseen hands

Modern paranormal investigations have yielded compelling evidence of supernatural activity. Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) recordings have captured voices speaking in multiple languages, reflecting the hotel’s historic role as a melting pot of cultures during the Gold Rush. Electromagnetic field meters consistently spike in certain rooms, particularly those associated with reported hauntings.

The hotel’s architectural features seem to contribute to its supernatural atmosphere. The original hardwood floors, antique fixtures, and Victorian-era furnishings appear to retain energy from the past. The building’s location, built upon what was once native Tlingit land, adds another layer to its spiritual significance.

During various renovation projects, workers have reported numerous supernatural encounters:

• The sound of a woman crying in empty rooms
• Tools being moved or hidden
• Unexplained footprints appearing in dust
• The sensation of being watched while working alone
• Mysterious figures appearing in photographs

The hotel’s front desk maintains a “Ghost Log” where guests can record their paranormal experiences. These accounts show remarkable consistency over the years, with many visitors describing similar encounters without knowing others’ experiences. Common themes include:

• The feeling of being tucked into bed by unseen hands
• Lights turning on and off without explanation
• The sound of music playing from nowhere
• Personal items being moved or arranged
• Unexplained temperature changes in rooms

What makes The Alaskan Hotel’s hauntings unique is their connection to the state’s Gold Rush history. Many of the supernatural occurrences seem to reflect the hopes, dreams, and trageDies of those who sought their fortunes in Alaska’s wilderness. The hotel serves as a living monument to this pivotal period in American history, where the spirits of prospectors, pioneers, and those who served them continue their eternal residence.

Today, The Alaskan Hotel embraces its supernatural heritage while maintaining its historic charm. The hotel offers ghost tours that combine historical facts with paranormal encounters, and many guests specifically request supposedly haunted rooms hoping for their own supernatural experience. The bar continues to operate, serving as a gathering place for both the living and the dead, where modern-day visitors might find themselves sharing a space with spectral patrons from the past.

Whether staying the night or simply stopping by its historic bar, visitors to The Alaskan Hotel step into a living time capsule where the Gold Rush era never truly ended. The hotel stands as a testament to Alaska’s frontier spirit, where the past and present converge in one of America’s most uniquely haunted locations.