Quick Tour of Historic Anchorage Building
If you are wandering around downtown Anchorage and you want to be sure to soak in all of the history and local culture, be sure to take a quick look in the Kimball Building. Built in 1915, the building was the first in Anchorage that had multi-stories and it served as a store for area residents. The land on which the building stands was purchased by Mr. Kimball for $500. The Kimball family is still the owner of the land. The store sold necessities and dry goods which were especially important because many people were leaving Tent City for permanent residences. The 12-year old daughter of the store's owner, Della Kimball, went on to become one of the more prominent citizens in Anchorage. Today, she is buried in the Anchorage Memorial Cemetery. There is no fee to tour the Kimball Building. Visits only take about 10 minutes, but visitors will enjoy seeing for themselves how the residents of Anchorage shopped and what life in the Alaskan town might have been like more than 100 years ago. Hotels nearby include the Historic Anchorage Hotel, the Captain Cook Hotel, and the Anchorage Grand Hotel. Diners will enjoy grabbing a bite to eat from the Crush Bistro and Cellar, the Gumbo House, or Sacks Cafe and Restaurant.
